1,500 CCTVs checked, 100 people questioned to solve Bhopal couple's murder mystery

Police arrested two brothers, alleging they murdered an elderly Bhopal couple to grab their property after examining over 1,500 CCTV footage, questioning more than 100 people and conducting a 20-day probe.

In Short

• Tenant alerted police after foul smell from Old Subhash Nagar house
• Bodies of Hemant and Shakuntala Philemon were found inside their home
• Police arrested two brothers: Shrikant Chichalia and Shashikant Chichalia

Madhya Pradesh Police has claimed to have cracked the 20-day-old 'blind' double murder of an elderly couple in Bhopal's Ashbagh area, alleging that the killings were part of a conspiracy to seize their property.

The police arrested two brothers, identified as Shrikant Chichalia and Shashikant Chichalia, accusing them of murdering Hemant Philemon and his wife Shakuntala Philemon after allegedly fraudulently getting the gift deed of the couple's house transferred in their names.

The incident came to light in the Old Subhash Nagar locality in Bhopal. The elderly couple, who lived on the first floor of their house, had not been seen for several days. A tenant residing on the second floor alerted police after noticing a foul smell emanating from the house.

When police reached the residence, they found Hemant Philemon dead on a bed, while Shakuntala Philemon's body was lying on a sofa in the drawing room. Officials recovered spent cartridge cases, a bullet and other forensic evidence from the scene, following which a forensic science team began its examination.

Given the seriousness of the case, police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Around 20 police teams were deployed to investigate the murders.

According to police, officials examined footage from more than 1,500 CCTV cameras, questioned over 100 suspects, and analysed mobile call detail records, location data and other digital evidence. Multiple raids were also conducted across different districts based on technical leads and intelligence inputs.

During the investigation, police alleged that the accused brothers had earlier managed to fraudulently execute a gift deed transferring ownership of the couple's house, reportedly worth several crores, in their favour.

Officials said the accused initially believed they would eventually inherit the property after the elderly couple's natural deaths. However, when they learnt that the couple had finalised a deal to sell the house, they allegedly feared losing control of the property and hatched a plan to eliminate them.

Police said they are also investigating whether other individuals were involved in the alleged conspiracy.

According to police, the accused initially attempted to mislead officials during questioning. However, forensic and technical evidence contradicted their claims. Following sustained interrogation, the two brothers allegedly confessed to conspiring to murder the couple and carrying out the crime.

Owing to the sensitivity of the case and the delay in tracing the accused, the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to their arrest. The reward stood in force until the accused were apprehended.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

- Ends