Sacked Guard Raped, Robbed Then Strangled Perfumer Monika Ghurde

Rajkumar Singh, during interrogation, narrated how he tortured Monika Ghurde throughout the night before killing her

File photo of Monika Ghurde, the perfumer, who was found murdered on 6 October 2016. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Monika Ghurde)

The man held for the murder of perfumer Monika Ghurde spent two nights on the terrace monitoring her movements and raped her multiple times before strangulating her, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, Rajkumar Singh, has confessed to sexually abusing Monika after tying her to bed in her apartment and also forced her to watch three porn clips, Vimal Gupta, Deputy Inspector General of Police said.

Singh, a 21-year-old native of Punjab who worked as a security guard, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly murdering the photographer-turned-perfume specialist on the night of 5 October at her rented flat in Sangolda village in Goa.

Singh, nabbed from a Bengaluru hotel two days ago, was brought to Goa on transit remand on Monday night. He was remanded to police custody seven days by a Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Mapusa town, on Tuesday, after police ruled out involvement of any other person.

File photo of Monika Ghurde, the perfumer who was found murdered on 6 October 2016. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Monika Ghurde)

Robbed, Tortured, Raped, Killed

He was tracked on the basis of ATM transactions he made at different locations after stealing two cards of the 39-year-old woman and forcing her to reveal their PINs.

Singh reportedly demanded money after adhering Ghurde to the bed. She asked him to take money from her purse, reports The Times of India. Singh found Rs 4,000 in her purse and demanded more when Ghurde gave him the ATM card and gave him the PIN.

Ghurde reportedly fainted after Singh forcibly entered her three-bedroom apartment when he bound her to the bed while he “boiled eggs for dinner”, ate snacks and chocolates, reports The Indian Express.

Singh tortured and raped Ghurde multiple times through the night before strangling her to death, Gupta said.

After smothering her with a pillow, Singh also reportedly shaved in the house, providing the necessary proof through DNA analysis, to police.

Perfumer Monica Ghurde in one of her Instagram posts. (Photo courtesy: Instagram/monikagee)

Singh Kept Track of Ghurde’s Movements

Gupta said the accused arrived in Goa on 5 April in search of a job and was employed as a security guard in the complex. He first met Ghurde on 7 June, when she asked him for vacant flats as she was looking for an apartment.

The accused was attracted towards Monika since the day she inquired about availability of a flat in the complex and later followed her movements when she started residing there. After his duty as a security guard, he would wash cars of the residents, including that of Monika.

Vimal Gupta, Deputy Inspector General of Police

File photo of deceased perfumer Monika Ghurde. (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@MonikaGhurde)

He Blamed Ghurde for Being Sacked From His Job

Gupta, who interrogated Singh at Saligaon police station in presence of Superintendent of Police (North) Umesh Gaonkar, said the accused developed grudge against Ghurde after he was sacked from the job on 22 July after being accused of stealing her umbrella.

He was then employed as a labourer in Ponda, when he visited Ghurde twice, asking her to withdraw her complaint. He then left Goa only to return for revenge.

Several members of the residency had complained against Singh, however, he blamed Ghurde for his dismissal. The security agency, which had employed him, also withheld his two months’ salary worth Rs 22,000.

(With inputs from PTI, The Times of India, and The Indian Express)