In a shocking case from Indore’s Malharganj area, police arrested 28-year-old Vikas Gauhar for allegedly strangling his grandmother and hiding her body in a bed’s storage box. The incident occurred late Tuesday night in Salvi Mohalla of Indiranagar.
Shanti Dhananjay, 65, was a retired muster roll worker with the municipal corporation and was supporting her family through her pension. She had taken on the responsibility of raising Vikas’s two young children—aged seven and five—after his wife left him a year ago due to his violent and addictive behavior.
Refusal Leads to Murder
Around 4 a.m., Vikas allegedly asked his grandmother for money to buy liquor. When she refused, he strangled her while his children slept in the house. After committing the murder, he stuffed her body into a storage box under the bed.
“We received information about the dead body of a 65-year-old woman found in a trunk at her residence in Indra Nagar, Salvi locality. Acting swiftly, the police reached the spot, conducted an inspection, and called in the FSL team to gather forensic evidence,” said Additional DCP Alok Sharma.
Daughter’s Complaint Leads to Arrest
The crime came to light on Wednesday when Shanti’s daughter filed a police complaint, alarmed by her mother’s sudden disappearance and Vikas’s suspicious behavior. She reported that Vikas had locked the house and pushed her out after a brief conversation.
Police found Vikas’s statements inconsistent, prompting a house inspection. “During the investigation, her body was found inside a storage trunk placed on the bed,” Sharma confirmed.
Vikas fled before the police could apprehend him but was tracked and arrested within an hour. During questioning, he confessed to the murder. Authorities confirmed that his father had died years earlier and that Shanti was the sole breadwinner of the household.
Investigation Continues
Vikas remains in custody as further investigation into the case proceeds.
