The Goregaon-based businessman, who allegedly stabbed his wife and three children before surrendering to the police, was driven to murder by mounting debts and an ongoing argument with his mother, police officers said on Thursday.
The businessman, Umesh Gupta (48), used to run a lottery centre in Malad and was staying with his wife Bindu (45), daughters Nikita (24) and Ankita (22), and son Ankit (16) in Goregaon (West). On Wednesday morning, he allegedly attacked his family members with two knives while they were sleeping and then turned himself in.
According to Goregaon police, Mr. Gupta during interrogation said that he had been disturbed for several months owing to his rising debts. He was also troubled because of an ongoing dispute with his mother over the flat in which he was staying with his family.
Senior Police Inspector Dhanaji Nalawade said, “Mr. Gupta told us that his mother had been pestering him to vacate the flat and allow her to move in. He said they had constant arguments over the issue.” The police said Mr. Gupta was distressed and bought two kitchen knives on his way home from work on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he waited till everyone was fast asleep and first attacked his wife.
A police officer said, “The screams of his wife woke up the children, who resisted Mr. Gupta’s attempts to attack them. Mr. Gupta said that he had planned to kill his entire family and take his own life so that his mother could have the flat. But he left his house and surrendered before the police.”
The police said Mr. Gupta’s wife and children have been admitted to Siddarth Hospital in Goregaon and are out of danger. Mr. Gupta was arrested and charged with attempt to murder under the Indian Penal Code.
He was produced in court on Thursday and has been remanded in police custody till Saturday.
