<div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: solid #E5E7EB 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #E5E7EB .25pt; padding: 0in 0in 6.0pt 0in; background: whitesmoke;">
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; letter-spacing: -.4pt; border: solid #E5E7EB 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #E5E7EB .25pt; padding: 0in;">New Delhi: A formal police investigation has been launched into the deaths of five family members found at a residential building in Vasant Kunj. Despite reports of the Delhi Police probing a possible occult angle, officials have denied putting stock in such theories. 
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Earlier news agency PTI had that the police will study the infamous 2018 Burari suicide case to investigate any potential &ldquo;occult practice&rdquo; angle in the Vasant Kunj deaths.
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On Friday afternoon, five members of a family, including the father and his four daughters, were found dead inside their rented flat in Delhi&rsquo;s Vasant Kunj area. Primary investigation has revealed that the family members may have ended their lives in a suicide pact. 
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The incident came to light at around 10am on September 27, when the owner of the building where the family resided, called to report a foul smell coming from the third-floor apartment. 
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Police, with assistance from the fire brigade, broke down the door and discovered the bodies of a man and his four daughters.
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The deceased have been identified as Heera Lal Sharma, a 55-year-old carpenter, and his four daughters &mdash; Neetu (26), Nikki (24), Neeru (23), and Nidhi (20). All of the girls were specially-abled.
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Officials recovered open packets of Celphos, a toxic chemical used in pesticides, near the bodies, raising suspicions of poisoning. Additionally, tetra packs of juice and a bottle of water were also collected as evidence from the dustbin, suggesting the possibility that these items were consumed before the tragedy.
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Mystery around the case deepened when police officials discovered sacred red thread tied around the stomachs and necks of all four daughters. Bodies of the daughters were found lying on a double bed in one room, while their father&rsquo;s body was discovered in an adjacent room. White foam was seen coming out of their mouths, a common indicator of poisoning.
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Investigators also recovered CCTV footage showing Sharma entering the house with a packet two days before the bodies were found.\
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According to relatives of the deceased, Sharma had not been dealing well with the death of his wife. The family had become isolated from everyone and the daughters had rarely been seen outside.
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A few details of the case bear certain resemblance to the 2018 Burari suicide case, where 11 members of a family, were found blindfolded and bound, dead at their residence.<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">

Cops have begun investigation of the case

Cops suspect suicide pact poisoning; forensic evidence collected

Vasant Kunj Case: Delhi Police to probe ‘occult practices’ angle?

Cops suspect suicide pact poisoning; forensic evidence collected

September 30, 2024 | 14:26 IST