‘They paid me Rs 300’: Dehradun plumber kills elderly couple, house help after they refused to pay Rs 600

An 80-year-old man, his wife and their house help were found murdered at their home in Dehradun on Tuesday.

Police arrested Raj Kumar, a plumber who had been working in Dehradun for around five years, in connection with the killings.

According to SSP Pramendra Dobal. Kumar told police that he was called to the couple’s home for some plumbing work.

The victims were identified as Ramesh Kapoor, 80, a retired works manager at an ordnance factory; his wife Rajni, 75 and their house help, Tilya Devi, 48.

The SSP said that Kumar had known the couple since he worked with them in the past. After completing the work on Tuesday, he had an argument with Kapoor over his payment.

Kumar said that the dispute was over the amount he was paid for the plumbing work.

“I asked for Rs 600; they paid me Rs 300, so I stabbed them with a screwdriver”, he told reporters.

Kumar reportedly stabbed the couple with a screwdriver. When the house help tried to stop Kumar, he stabbed her too, according to Dobal.

Police said Kumar fled the scene with a gold chain he picked off the couple.

According to their neighbour Vishal Rana, the incident occurred around 2:30 pm. He took the victims to the hospital.

Rana said that they saw a man walking away with blood-stained clothes from the scene.

‘Locals chased him and caught him. A screwdriver was found near the victims, which is believed to be the murder weapon,” Rana said

An FIR was registered against Kumar under the murder provision in the BNS based on a complaint by the Tilya’s family.

The Kapoors ’ two sons live in Pune and Delhi. Tilya was a mother to four children.

Police are examining the evidence and questioning the suspect as part of the investigation.