The brother of Saraswati Paradise International Public School Director Manisha Mittal, who was shot death by two assailants at the school gate on June 13, has been identified as the main conspirator in the murder.
Addressing a press conference in Shimla on Tuesday, Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Mehar Panwar said that Hemank Mittal, along with his partner Govind, hatched the plan to murder Manisha, owning to a long-standing property dispute.
“Both accused have been arrested,” she said.
Providing details of the investigation, Panwar said police found that Hemank had transferred a sum of Rs 8.5 lakh to Govind days before Manisha was killed.
“Hemank had access to the school’s CCTV footages and was tracking his sister’s movements. He had also shared the access with Govind, who further passed it on to the shooters, who used the footage to monitor Manisha on the day of the murder,” she added.
“The money was later used by Govind to execute the crime. Govind rented a Swift car for the shooters and also transferred a certain amount to another accused, Ashish, after which he fled abroad and switched off his mobile phone,” the officer said.
Panwar said the breakthrough in the case came through technical and financial evidence. Police teams were sent to Rohtak, from where Govind was arrested and brought to Shimla.
During interrogation, Govind allegedly confessed to hatching the plan and making arrangements for Manisha’s murder, she added. He has been sent to four-day police remand.
Hemank, who is currently, injured, has also been arrested and is under house custody. He will be presented in the court virtually, the police said.
