Kolkata cops shift elder Dey brother to NRS, focus on sibling Prasun’s pivotal role
Times of India | 23 February 2025
KOLKATA: City cops shifted Pranay, the elder of the two Dey brothers from Tangra, to NRS Hospital on Saturday evening after his discharge from Ruby General Hospital where he, younger brother Prasun and son Pratip were admitted after surviving a car crash on EM Bypass early on Wednesday. Police, however, did not confirm if Pranay had been formally arrested.
Sources said the investigators want to question Pranay separately as there was “indisputable evidence” that the deaths of the three women in their Tangra home took place “with the active connivance and execution of the two brothers,” with Prasun playing the most crucial role.Champions Trophy 2025IND vs PAK Live: India target semis spot, Pakistan desperate for survivalHow to Watch IND vs PAK Champions Trophy Match in US, India and Dubaiindia vs PakistanPrasun is likely to stay admitted at Ruby Hospital for now.
“There are multiple gaps in the statements of the two brothers. We need to interrogate them separately, especially since it appears that the injuries inflicted on the deceased — Sudeshna, Romi and Priyamvada — were inflicted by one person. Preliminary evidence suggests Prasun played a pivotal role with Pranay by his side. But unless we get corroborative forensic evidence we cannot confirm anything,” said an officer of the detective department.
According to the investigators, the extensive efforts by the brothers to destroy evidence have led them to suspect that Sudeshna, Romi and Priyanvada were murdered after a meticulous plan drawn up over several days.
“At one point, Prasun told police that his elder brother had killed his wife and daughter. But Pranay claimed Prasun had killed his wife. Later, Prasun changed his statement and claimed he had killed everybody. There are also inconsistencies on who fed the sedative-laced dessert to the teenaged girl. Besides, all the family members have sharp cut marks on their wrists except Prasun.
“There was plan for a collective suicide, yet there is no suicide note. The house has 18 CCTV cameras, but all were disconnected to eliminate evidence. The last recording of the DVR (digital video recorder) is from Feb 16. The DVR is placed in dining room close to which blood droplets and a knife were found but the three bodies were in different rooms on the first floor. Also, everything seemed to have taken place in the cover of darkness since all lights switched off on Tuesday evening. All mobile phones were also switched off from morning,” an officer said, wondering what was the need to hide facts if indeed it was a suicide pact.
There is also confusion about which of the family members consumed the poisoned dessert. No trace of poison was found on the brothers or in the stomach of their wives. The wives died of clean injuries suggesting zero resistance but Pratip woke up when he was attacked. Also, when leaving their Tangra home, Pranay was seen holding a bottle, which cops suspect was a liquor bottle.
Pranay was admitted to NRS Hospital’s orthopaedic unit on Saturday evening. Ruby hospital sources said they were ready to release Pratip along with his father but police had sought more time to shift the boy. The cops are reluctant to send Pratip to a shelter home. “A close relative of Sudeshna has agreed to take care of the minor. Ideally, we would like to hand over the child to this relative,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.
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