Body in suitcase: Accused took 25k from victim’s a/c
Times of India | 27 February 2025
12 Kolkata: The mother-daughter duo caught trying to dispose of the body of a relative at Kumartuli ghat on Tuesday had murdered the woman, 34-year-old Susmita Ghosh, between 4 pm and 5 pm on Sunday. They had also withdrawn Rs 25,000 from her bank account after the murder using her debit card after changing the PIN with the help of her phone.
On Wednesday, accused Falguni Ghosh (34) and Aarti Ghosh (55) were presented in Kolkata's City Sessions Court and remanded in one day's judicial custody. On Thursday, both will be presented in Barasat Court since the case has been transferred to Madhyamgram police station under Barasat police district, where the crime was committed. The court directed Kolkata Police to hand over the related case diary to Madhyamgram police.
Investigators also found that Falguni and Aarti had travelled to Bowbazar on Monday to carry out a recce and order ornaments. They went back to Madhyamgram with a strolley. But police aren't sure if the body was disposed of in this strolley or if the bag belonged to Susmita. Aarti, who had worked in a hospital earlier, used a ‘bnoti' to dismember the body and pack it in the trolley. They then threw the ‘bnoti' into an adjoining pond.
On Tuesday, the duo had hired a van rickshaw, belonging to Radhanath Haldar, for Rs 130 and reached Doltala. There they hired a cab. Both the van driver and cabby, who helped lift the bag, had asked why it was so heavy. In reply, the women said it contained bell metal utensils. The taxi driver said the two wore disposable masks during the journey and had discussed various Bengali dishes all throughout.
It was learned that Falguni had previously visited the spot near Ahiritola because she was familiar with the area as a relative of her in-laws' lived there. On Tuesday night, cops from north port PS, along with a forensic team, took Falguni to her rented house in Birespalli, Madhyamgram. They seized 20 items from there. According to police, the brick used by Falguni to hit her aunt-in-law in the head, face, and neck was among them. Falguni had thrown the brick in the garden outside the house.
Police claimed the two had confessed to the murder during interrogation.
Investigators collected blood samples from at least five places in the rented house. The deceased's cellphone, voter ID, Aadhaar card, and vanity bag were also recovered.