A Delhi dermatologist, Dr Manish Gupta, was arrested for allegedly killing his 45-year-old domestic help, Meena, at his Mount Kailash residence on June 18. Police revealed that Gupta, who had been treated for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder for nearly a decade, was struggling with violent thoughts before the incident.
Background of the Incident
According to a senior police officer, Gupta was contemplating harming his wife, son, or himself. Investigators believe his mental health condition, combined with repeated disagreements with his wife over Meena, may have led to the killing. Gupta had wanted to remove Meena from work for years, but his wife opposed the decision, leading to marital tension.
Timeline of Events
- June 18, around 10:30am: Meena arrived at Gupta’s residence for work.
- After washing clothes: She went to the terrace to hang laundry.
- Around 11:20am: Police suspect she was attacked with a bat and knife.
- 11:36am: A PCR call was received after a resident spotted her body.
- Police arrival: Gupta was found sitting on the staircase and taken into custody.
- Recovered: A cricket bat and a blood-stained kitchen knife.
Victim and Accused
Accused: Dr Manish Gupta, 50, a dermatologist visiting multiple establishments including the National Heart Institute. He was reportedly under treatment for depression and OCD for nearly 10 years.
Victim: Meena, 45, a domestic worker in the locality for around 25 years, who worked at Gupta’s home for over 15 years. She was originally from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, and was considered a trusted member of the household.
Family Dispute and Black Magic Suspicion
Police said Gupta and his wife had been quarrelling about firing Meena. However, his wife insisted Meena continue because she was helpful and caring. Meena had also supported the family during Gupta’s mother’s battle with cancer before her death about 18 months ago.
During interrogation, Gupta claimed he suspected Meena of practising black magic and believed her presence disturbed peace in his family. However, police said the exact motive is still being established. Investigators are looking into family disputes, marital tensions, and Gupta’s mental health condition. They are also checking whether he had stopped taking his medication.
The Attack
On Thursday morning, Meena arrived at the house around 10:30am. After washing clothes, she went to the terrace to dry them. Police allege that Gupta followed her and attacked her with his son’s cricket bat before stabbing her with a knife. The slit mark on Meena’s neck resembled a medical incision, a senior police officer noted.
A resident of a nearby tower spotted Meena lying in a pool of blood on the terrace from the sixth floor and alerted police. When police arrived, they found Gupta sitting on the staircase inside the building. He allegedly told officers, “Mujhe faansi dedo (hang me).” Police recovered a blood-stained knife and a bat from the spot. Gupta allegedly confessed that he first attacked Meena with the bat and then stabbed her.
Family Members Present
Gupta’s 19-year-old son was at home during the alleged attack. After the incident, Gupta went downstairs and told his son that he had attacked Meena. His wife, an Ayurvedic dermatologist, was not at home. The couple’s son is a first-year LLB student at a private university.
Victim’s Family Reacts
Meena’s family expressed shock. Her son Robin said, “I left for work as usual around 6:30am. Later, a relative called and said mother had died. She never complained about ‘doctor sir’ and there were never any issues between them. Why would someone do this?”
Meena is survived by her husband, who lives in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, and Robin, who works at a private company in Nehru Place. Her sister Shaptami Biswas described her as the most gentle and soft-spoken person in the family. “We will not return to work until we are given answers about what happened,” she said.
Legal Proceedings
A Delhi court on Friday sent Dr Manish Gupta to two days’ police custody. Judicial Magistrate Anurag Chhabra allowed the police plea seeking custody for further investigation. Police told the court they needed more time to verify whether anyone else was involved and to uncover more details. The defence opposed the request, stating, “Everything has been seized by the police; he has been in police custody for the last 24 hours. He is already suffering from depression, and he is a well-reputed doctor.”
