Initial investigations into the murder of Air Commodore Parvez Khokhar (retd.), a war hero, at a gated community off Hosur Road have led police to suspect the involvement of an insider, said the Hebbagodi police.
The police have so far questioned family members, including the slain officer’s wife, the domestic help and personnel. “Though we are suspecting the involvement of an insider, it does not mean that those whom we have questioned are being treated as accused,” the police said. Ruling out the possibility of murder for gain, the police said: “The assailants have not robbed any valuables.”
An officer, who is part of the investigation, said: “We are verifying the call records of Air Cmde Khokhar and his family members, and also analysing the CCTV footage obtained from in and around the area.”
Air Cmde Khokhar was found murdered in his house in the gated community at Huskur Gate, near Electronics City, on Monday morning. His limbs were tied and he was reportedly strangled with a dupatta before being smothered with a pillow.
A former Chief Test Pilot of Light Combat Aircraft, Air Cmde Khokhar had seen action in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and later also served as Air Attache at Islamabad. He was commandant of Airborne Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE).
Preliminary investigations revealed that the assailants might have entered the premises by scaling the compound wall and gained entry into the house by breaking open the backdoor. “If they intended to rob, why didn’t they take any valuables and why did they lock [his wife] Pramila Khokhar’s bedroom door from outside,” a senior police officer, who is part of the investigations, said.
Meanwhile, the police, who conducted a through search of the premises, found an empty beer bottle and Ms. Khokhar’s vanity bag on the terrace. The bag containing Rs. 3,000 and her mobile phone was intact.
“The assailant could have taken the bag and dumped it on the terrace to divert the investigation,” the official said. The bag and the bottle have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for tests.
“We have some leads, which we are following,” said Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Ramesh B.
On Tuesday, the post-mortem was conducted at Victoria Hospital. The funeral is on Wednesday.
