New Delhi:
A 27-year-old teacher was arrested for allegedly murdering his "colleague and good friend" following a dispute over sharing of profit in property deals, police said on Monday.
The accused, Arvind Azad, allegedly drugged his victim Vijay Solanki and set him ablaze before dumping his body in Rohtak in Haryana on March 31, V Renganathan, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), said.
"He made a plan to kill Solanki in February following a dispute over sharing of profit in a property deal. Azad and Solanki had taken a loan of over Rs 12 lakh and invested it in a property to earn a quick profit.
"Their relation turned sour after Solanki refused to pay the share to Azad. This led to the killing. We have arrested Azad from Moti Nagar yesterday," Renganathan said.
Both Solanki and Azad went missing from their school in Chand Nagar on March 31.
Azad allegedly got the information about "party drugs" from the internet, purchased it and on March 31, injected it in a tetra-pack of juice.
As Solanki drank the juice, he felt uncomfortable and was taken to a hospital by Azad, the official said, adding he injected the drug on Solanki when he was about to regain consciousness. He even called Solanki's family to inform that he is bringing him to his house as he was unwell.
"When he presumed he was dead, he went to dispose of the body, purchased petrol in bottles, threw the body on the roadside, poured petrol and set it ablaze in Rohtak," Renganathan said.
Asked how they suspected Azad, Renganathan said during investigations it came to light that Rs 2,200 was withdrawn from Solanki's account on April 1, a day after he was reported missing.
"The bank statement was analysed and it was revealed through the bank statement that Rs 2,200 was withdrawn from his account through ATM card from Saharanpur. The video footage revealed that the transaction was made by Azad," he said.
"Azad made efforts to avoid his arrest by making phone calls from one station to another, by sending SMS and writing letters that he will end his life but in vain and ultimately could not escape," he said.
Azad is the son of a senior bank manager of a nationalised bank and was employed as an MCD school teacher.