Jaipur:
What first appeared to be a tragic car fire in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district has now unravelled into a shocking murder case involving deep family tensions, inheritance disputes and an alleged months-long conspiracy planned by a teenager.
Former village sarpanch Ram Singh Chaudhary, his second wife Surgyan, his mother Pusi Devi and niece Mahima were found dead inside a burnt vehicle earlier this week. Initially believed to be an accident, investigators now say the deaths were part of a carefully planned murder allegedly orchestrated by Ram Singh’s 17-year-old son with the help of close family members.
Police claim the teenager had been planning the killings for nearly five months and had allegedly studied crime shows and online content to understand police procedures and methods used to destroy evidence.
Teenager’s Behaviour Raised First Suspicion
According to investigators, the first major clue came not from forensic evidence but from the unusual behaviour of the teenager after the deaths.
While family members were grieving, police noticed the boy remained unusually calm. Officers said he sat beside his crying mother, comforting her and casually drinking tea, behaviour investigators considered inconsistent with the tragedy.
This prompted police to question him more closely.
The family had initially told investigators that Ram Singh was taking his ailing mother to a hospital when the vehicle suddenly caught fire, killing everyone inside.
However, police soon discovered several inconsistencies in the account.
Stab Injuries And Seating Pattern Exposed The Alleged Plot
Investigators found that none of the victims were seated in the front section of the vehicle, raising doubts about whether they had been travelling normally at the time of the fire.
Police also discovered stab injuries on the body of Surgyan, indicating that at least one victim had been attacked before the vehicle was set ablaze.
At that point, investigators shifted the case from an accidental death probe to a suspected murder investigation.
Ajmer Superintendent of Police Harsh Vardhan told NDTV that the case exposed longstanding tensions within the family after Ram Singh Chaudhary’s second marriage.
Family Tensions Had Been Growing For Years
According to police, the accused teenager and other family members were upset with Ram Singh over the way they believed he treated his first wife after marrying Surgyan.
Investigators claim the teenager also felt restricted and emotionally isolated within the household.
The family lived together at an isolated farmhouse in Shrirampura village, nearly 60 kilometres from Ajmer. Ram Singh reportedly lived there with his two wives, mother and niece.
Police say tensions surrounding inheritance and property management further deepened divisions inside the family.
Mahima, the niece who was also killed, reportedly handled financial matters, including bank accounts, land dealings and family transactions. Investigators believe some family members feared that Mahima and Surgyan together could influence Ram Singh regarding property and inheritance decisions.
Police Say Teen Planned Murders After Watching Crime Shows
Investigators allege the teenager spent months studying crime-based web series, online videos and gaming content.
Police claim he researched crime scenes, evidence destruction and police investigation methods while planning the murders.
According to investigators, Ram Singh and Surgyan consumed beer on the night of the incident before going to sleep.
Police believe the teenager stayed awake through the night, playing online games on his phone until around 4 am.
He allegedly entered Ram Singh’s room while the family was asleep and attacked his father with a knife near the ear, causing fatal injuries.
Second Wife Tried To Resist, Police Say
Investigators say Surgyan woke up during the attack and attempted to resist and raise an alarm.
The commotion allegedly brought Pusi Devi and Mahima into the room.
Police claim the accused teenager’s mother — Ram Singh’s first wife — and his sister then joined him in attacking the remaining victims.
All four victims were allegedly murdered inside the farmhouse before the accused attempted to destroy evidence.
Bodies Were Allegedly Burnt To Stage Accident
According to police, the accused family members placed the bodies inside a vehicle and set it on fire to make the deaths appear like a road accident.
Investigators believe the plan was intended to eliminate forensic evidence and mislead authorities.
However, the stab injuries and suspicious seating positions inside the burnt vehicle quickly exposed inconsistencies in the story.
Police say the teenager later confessed during questioning, leading investigators to uncover the alleged conspiracy.
Investigation Continues
Police are continuing their investigation into the murder case, including examining digital evidence, phone records and the alleged involvement of other family members.
The case has shocked Rajasthan due to both the brutality of the killings and the alleged role of a minor accused in planning and executing the murders.
Authorities are also investigating whether additional financial or property-related motives may have contributed to the crime.