Pune Techie Murder: Accused “Smartly Planned” Attack, Say Police

Police said that Kumar, who is a Bengalurur-based IT professional, had tasked someone to execute the attack.

Antara’s parents had alleged that a youth was stalking and harassing her for sometime. (Photo: iStock)

Police have arrested Santosh Kumar, the man who was questioned in connection with the brutal murder of a 23-year-old woman in Pune last week. Police also suspect it to be a case of one-sided affair.

Kumar had previously claimed that he was in Bengaluru on the day Antara Das, a Capgemini employee, was killed. He had also provided CCTV footage to police as evidence of having been in Bengaluru.

The main accused Santosh Kumar has been arrested. We are on the right track, but can’t share more details at this point.

Rajkumar Shinde, Additional SP

Antara Das was stabbed to death by an attacker wielding a sharp-edged weapon near Kanbay Chowk in Talawade last Friday night. Her parents had alleged that a youth was stalking and harassing her for sometime.

The incident occurred barely 500 metres from her workplace on the outskirts of the city, while she was walking down from her office.

According to her parents, a youth who was with Antara during training in Bengaluru, had been following her. Since they have expressed their suspicion, we are investigating this angle as well along with others. 

Pune Crime Branch officer

Kumar told the police that the last call he made to Antara was in November.

According to him, he had come to Pune with Antara in April when she appeared for an interview.

Pune Police Officer

Satyendra Sinha, an eye-witness who rushed Das to a hospital after witnessing the crime, said:

While riding near Kanbay Chowk, I saw a couple having an argument and suddenly saw the girl collapse on the pavement. As I stopped, the woman, who was bleeding, came near my bike, held my hand and pleaded for help saying “save me”.

Sinha rushed her to a nearby private hospital, where she was later declared dead. The suspect fled from the spot. The eye-witness said that since it was dark and there were no street-lights, he could not see the face of the attacker.

According to police, IT firm Capgemini, where Das was employed, has stated that she left the office around 8 pm on Friday.

As per their statement, the woman, before leaving, mentioned in the company register that she would travel by auto-rickshaw.

The victim’s last rites were performed in Pune after her parents reached the city.

Police also added that Kumar had “smartly planned the murder”.

During investigation, it was revealed that Santosh Kumar had very smartly planned the murder. The accused claimed that he was present in Bengaluru on the day of the incident... We have arrested Kumar under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy) and he will be produced before court today (Thursday).

Rajkumar Shinde, Additional Superintendent of Police

The ASP said it was found that Kumar, who hails from Bengaluru and is also an IT professional, had tasked someone to execute the attack.

(With inputs from PTI.)