Two real estate brokers have been arrested for murdering an elderly couple after tricking them into signing over their house in Bhopal, police said.
The accused, Shrikant Chinchalia (40) and Shashkant Chinchalia (35), killed retired railway official Hemant Philomin and his wife Shakuntala Parikh, a retired government nurse, at their home in Sudama Nagar on June 24, police said.
Both were shot dead and their decomposed bodies were recovered on June 26, police said.
“They entered the house and shot them both. The neighbors and tenants did not suspect foul play as the accused were frequent visitors,” the police said, adding that CCTV footage and scientific investigation helped the police arrest them.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case. Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said nearly 20 teams are participating in the investigation. Surveillance camera footage had earlier captured two suspects wearing raincoats, prompting police to announce a $200 reward. $50,000 for information.
According to the police, the accused was in contact with the couple a few months ago through one of his relatives, Shivani Parikh. They helped sell two properties in Itarsi and Bhopal.
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During the Itarsi deal, they fraudulently obtained a gift deed to the couple’s house in their names. In March, when the couple decided to sell their house in Sudama Nagar, property dealers delayed the process for months, showing it to potential buyers, but never finalizing the deal. When Hemant Philomin completed the sale independently, this angered the accused.
The brokers then conspired to kill the couple to seize the property, the police commissioner said.
Investigators are also investigating Barrick’s role.
