Delhi Ex-Constable Inspired by 'Drishyam', Murders Man in Property Row

Noida: A former Delhi Police constable has been apprehended for allegedly murdering a businessman from Greater Noida in an attempt to take possession of the man's property. 

Former Cop Killed Man After Watching ‘Drishyam’

The accused, Praveen, aged 42, was arrested on Thursday night, nearly two weeks after the businessman, Ankush Sharma, was reported missing by his family. Praveen planned the entire crime over the course of a week, taking inspiration from the Ajay Devgn and Tabu starrer crime-thriller film "Drishyam" and other similar web series.

Dispute over Property Took One Life 

The connection between Praveen and Ankush Sharma began through a mutual friend. ‘’Sharma was looking to sell his flat located in a Greater Noida residential society'', said Saad Miya Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Greater Noida. ‘’The two agreed on a sale price of ₹1.20 crore, and Praveen paid ₹8 lakh upfront to initiate paperwork for the property transfer'' he added.

However, tensions kept brewing between them after Sharma found out that the actual value of the flat in SKA society was much higher than the amount they had initially agreed upon.

Ankush wanted the actual price of the flat, but Praveen felt cheated and concocted a plan to eliminate Sharma and take possession of the flat without paying the full price.

On August 9, Praveen picked up Sharma from his office under the pretense of paying him the remaining amount. The two drove to a parking area in a nearby society where they began drinking together. Once Sharma was fully intoxicated, Praveen struck him on the head with a hammer and then strangled him to death.

100 CCTV Footages Lead to Identification of Killer

Praveen hid the body on a piece of disputed land that was rarely visited, hoping that he would never get caught. After Sharma's sudden disappearance, his family filed a missing person report at the Beta-2 police station. The police reviewed more than 100 CCTV footage clips and gathered intelligence, eventually leading them to Praveen. Upon his arrest, Praveen disclosed the location where he had hidden Sharma’s body. The police also recovered the hammer used in the murder and a vehicle involved in the crime, told DCP Khan.

The accused has been booked under serious charges in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 103(1) for murder, 238 for destroying evidence, and 123 for giving poison to another person.

In a similar incident a few weeks ago, a woman was allegedly killed by her former husband and her lover. Both suspects in this case were inspired by the movie "Drishyam" to cover up their crime and avoid arrest.