My brother, friend did not intend to kill Ekam, Seerat tells police

Our Correspondent

Mohali, March 20

Seerat, the wife of Ekam Singh Dhillon, who was found murdered yesterday in Phase IIIB1 here, told the police that her brother and his friend had come to her house to teach her husband a lesson over his behaviour with her and there was no intention to kill him.

Sharing the details of Seerat’s statement before the police, the SP (City), PS Bhandal, said here today that Seerat had told the police that quarrels often took place between the couple over Ekam’s behaviour with her. She told the police that Ekam’s business ventures were not running well and members of her paternal family used to extend financial help to her.

She also told the police that her husband used to allegedly pressure her to get additional financial assistance and suspected her relationship with others.

Bhandal said on March 18, Seerat arrived at her house around 8 pm while her brother, Vinay Partap Singh, and Vinay’s friend, Jagat, reached the area a little later between 8.15 pm and 8.30 pm, but kept sitting in their car. Ekam reached his house around 10 pm. Vinay and Jagat then followed Ekam into the house.

The SP said Seerat told the police that Ekam had strained relations with her brother and did not want him to come to his house (Ekam’s house) or interfere in his life in any way. Later, on the night of the crime, arguments took place between them. She told the police that when tempers ran high, Ekam took out a pistol. A scuffle followed and he allegedly told Seerat that either she should shoot him or he would shoot her. Seerat told the police that she took the pistol from Ekam and shot him dead, the SP added.

Bhandal said after Ekam was shot dead by Seerat, her brother and his friend helped her to stuff the body in the suitcase and clean the house to remove blood stains. He said the crime took place after 11 pm and Vinay Partap Singh and his friend left the house at daybreak. Seerat told the police that when neighbours had gone out for a walk she rolled the suitcase containing the body down the stairs and then wiped away the blood stains from the stairs. Then she pulled the strolley-type suitcase towards the BMW car parked outside the house. As the bag was heavy, she had to take the help of an auto-rickshaw driver who happened to be in the area.

What happened on that fateful night

SP (City) PS Bhandal said on March 18, Seerat arrived at her house around 8 pm while her brother, Vinay Partap Singh, and Vinay’s friend, Jagat, reached the area a little later between 8.15 pm and 8.30 pm, but kept sitting in their car. Ekam reached his house around 10 pm. Vinay and Jagat then followed Ekam into the house.

When tempers ran high…. ‘you shoot me or i’ll shoot you’

The SP said Seerat and Ekam had strained relations with her brother and did not want him to come to his house (Ekam’s house) or interfere in his life in any way. Later, on the night of the crime, arguments took place between them. She told the police that when tempers ran high, Ekam took out a pistol. A scuffle followed and he allegedly told Seerat that either she should shoot him or he would shoot her. Seerat told the police that she took the pistol from Ekam and shot him dead, the SP added.