A Ludhiana-based businessman has been accused of murdering his wife over a prolonged property dispute on Friday, at their residence in Atam Nagar House, Model Town area.
As reported in the Tribune India, Harmesh Arora—the prime accused and husband of Aarti Arora, the deceased—owned a factory, Arora Alloys. Aarti held the director’s post in the organization, but her family claims she was ousted from the position shortly before her death.
The woman’s brother was informed about the episode by their neighbors. Aghast by the turn of events, Kundra alerted cops of the incident.
“Her husband was greedy as he wanted to usurp her boutique. Recently, he also removed my sister from the director’s post by forging her signatures. On May 13, when I went to meet my sister, she was under depression. She also apprised me then that her husband and his family members were planning to kill her,” said Rajan Kundra, the complainant, and the deceased’s brother.
While Harmesh maintained that his wife had ended her own life, medical examinations— at the private hospital where her body was taken to— proved otherwise. Aarti reportedly had injuries on her neck, which were the result of strangulation by her husband. Further probe and closer checks indicated that Aarti had made efforts to resist the murder, but eventually succumbed to the attack.
The tragic passing of his wife has left the family devastated, but it is believed that Harmesh carried out the act with the support of his son, daughter, and daughter-in-law. Harmesh and Aarti have three children Lovenish, Ritika, and Parmesh. Parmesh is based in Canada, while the other two helped in the family business, as cited in Times Now News.
Kundra believes Harmesh was looking for an opportune moment to end his sister’s life as usurping her property was always at the back of his mind. Harmesh is also said to have harassed his wife for extended periods of time, as he suspected her of infidelity.
While the Model Town area police are yet to comment on this, a complaint was duly registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Model Town police station SHO Inderjit Singh, in a statement, said: “The body has been sent for autopsy, and things will get clearer once the other accused are nabbed.”
