Sandhya Singh murder case: Victim's son, Raghuveer arrested

"Raghuveer was today placed under arrest after he surrendered before the crime branch unit VI in connection with his mother Sandhya Singh murder case," Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy said.

The accused was accompanied by his father Jayprakash Singh, who is an IRS officer, and uncle Sanjay Prakash, who works in the government's security agency on a senior position.

Raghuveer Singh (left) was arrested by the police on Monday in connection with his mother (inset) Sandhya Singh's murder. File Pics

Raghuveer, who is a drug-addict, had gone missing ever since the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the case a week ago. Claiming that they have sufficient ground to arrest Raghuveer, Roy added, "When the accused appeared before us for questioning on earlier occasions, he had given contradictory statements, which now need to be ironed out. This indicated his role in the crime.

"Raghuveer has also refused to undergo scientific tests. Fearing arrest, he himself had gone to seek anticipatory bail before various courts, including the Supreme Court where his plea was rejected."

Asked about the motive behind the murder and how he carried out the killing, Roy said, "Raghuveer is yet to be interrogated. Once detailed questioning is done, things will be clear."u00a0

Sandhya Singh, 50, had gone missing on December 14 last year from her Seawoods flat in neighbouring Navi Mumbai city.

On January 28, two British birdwatchers spotted a human skull and other skeletal remains near a marsh in Nerul in Navi Mumbai that were later turned out be Sandhya's.

The investigation into the murder was transferred to the Mumbai police crime branch after the local police failed to crack the case. The crime branch had earlier interrogated several persons, including Raghuveer, his girlfriend Shreya Verma and Sandhya's husband Jai Prakash Singh.

According to crime branch sources, the investigators had suspected Raghuveer knew how his mother died. Raghuveer had hosted a party at home a day after his mother went missing. During his earlier questioning, he had told the police that his mother had gone to a bank on the day she disappeared. However, Sandhya's two maids had told them that when they had been waiting for Sandhya to return, Raghuveer had told them his mother had gone to her brothers' home in Juhu.

Raghuveer, who would often fight with his mother over petty issues, especially money, also had a heated argument with her on the day she went missing.