Police allege that Dr Manish Gupta, 50, fatally attacked his domestic help Meena Haldar, who has been working for more than a decade, on Thursday in Delhi’s Kailash Hills area.
She came to perform her routine domestic work at the doctor’s residence in south Delhi’s posh Mount Kailash area on Thursday. An hour later, she was no longer there after her employer beat her to death with a bat and a knife because she brought “bad energy.”
Police allege dermatologist Dr Manish Gupta, 50, fatally attacked his domestic helper Meena Haldar, 45, on the balcony of his apartment building, first killing her with a bat and then stabbing her with a sharp weapon.
Investigators say the murder occurred while Gupta’s teenage son was inside the family’s apartment and shortly after his wife left for work. By 11.36 am, a neighbor saw Haldar lying in a pool of blood and informed the police. Officers arrested Gupta at the scene, where he was allegedly found sitting near the body, according to details mentioned in an earlier HT report.
Police say the doctor admitted to the crime and cited long-standing grievances against the domestic worker, though investigators are also examining the family’s claim that he had been undergoing treatment for mental health issues over the past decade.
How the alleged crime unfolded
10:15 am: The accused’s wife leaves for work
According to police, Tina Gupta, wife of dermatologist Dr Manish Gupta, left for work at around 10.15 am. Gupta and his teenage son stayed inside their third-floor apartment in Mount Kailash.
10:30-10:45 AM: Domestic worker arrives
Meena Haldar, 45, who has worked for the Gupta family for more than a decade, arrived home. Police said she washed the clothes before heading to the shared balcony to dry them.
Before 11:15 a.m.: The doctor follows her to the balcony
Investigators said Gupta followed Haldar to the balcony. Police later told reporters that the doctor was unhappy with her work and wanted to remove it, but his family opposed the move.
An earlier HT report quoted a senior police officer as saying, “He told us that he wanted to remove Meena from the job but his family members refused to do so. He was upset and felt bad that no one was listening to him. He also told us that he suspected Meena was bringing bad energy into the house and that this affected his son’s studies.”
11:15-11:30 a.m.: Alleged assault and murder
Police alleged that Gupta first hit Haldar on the head with a cricket bat, causing her to collapse. He then allegedly stabbed her several times with a knife.
After the attack, Gupta went downstairs and placed the blood-stained weapons near the stairs, investigators said.
11:36 a.m.: Neighbors spot the body
A resident of a nearby building noticed a woman lying on the balcony in a pool of blood and immediately informed the police through a PCR call.
Minutes later: the police arrive
Police teams reached the residential complex and found Haldar dead on the balcony.
“She was working as a domestic help in the Gupta house… and was there for a long period of time. The accused was also present inside the house and was sitting near the body. He confessed to beating the victim with a bat and later attacked her with a knife,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Hemant Tiwari was quoted as saying.
“So far, the doctor has confessed to the crime and said he was upset with the domestic help. The family has also claimed that he has been undergoing treatment for mental health issues for the past 10 years. We are verifying all medical documents,” he added.
The doctor was arrested at the scene
Police said Gupta remained inside the home after the killing and was arrested shortly after officers arrived. The bat and knife allegedly used in the attack were found.
At noon: Protests break out
As news of the killing spread, dozens of domestic workers gathered outside the residential complex, demanding to see Haldar’s body. The crowd later clashed with the police.
The family was destroyed
Robin Haldar, Meena’s son, said: “My mother worked hard to run the house for years when I was a child. She gave us the best life. I can’t believe she was brutally murdered for no reason. She never took leave, always came on time. She always listened to them (Guptas). Why did they do this? My mother was lying in a pool of blood. It looks like he stabbed her multiple times. Why? I want answers. My mother always praised them. I worked there for more than 10-12 years.”
His wife Saptami added, “We were working nearby when we heard that Meena had died on the balcony. We rushed there but the police wouldn’t even let us. We protested and somehow got inside. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was blood everywhere. There were multiple injuries on her head. She fainted. If she had not been doing her job properly, they could have taken her out. Why did they kill her? What was her fault?”
The neighborhood is in shock
Residents said the accident was completely unexpected. A neighbour, Amit Vohra, told HT: “I have known the doctor for years. Gupta was always kind to everyone. He would donate at the temple, temple, and even to animal rescue. He was always this calm person. We never thought this would happen.”
The murder is the second high-profile murder to rock the upscale south Delhi neighborhood in less than three months.
