Arjun, 20, a student at Delhi University, confesses to stabbing his family after feeling humiliated by his father and angered over inheritance issues

The shocking murder of a South Delhi couple and their daughter was swiftly solved when police discovered that the killer was their 20-year-old son, Arjun. The gruesome killings occurred in Neb Sarai, where Rajesh Kumar (51), his wife Komal (46), and their daughter Kavita (23) were found stabbed to death in their home on December 4, 2024.

Arjun, a second-year Bachelor of Arts student at Delhi University, initially claimed he had gone for a morning walk around 5:30 am and discovered the bodies upon his return. He alerted the police and his uncle, but suspicion grew when investigators found contradictions in his statements. Police later examined CCTV footage and confirmed that no one from outside the family had entered the house, and there were no signs of forced entry or theft.

Upon sustained questioning, Arjun confessed to the murders, revealing that his motive stemmed from a combination of personal grievances and resentment towards his parents. He had been subjected to regular scolding and humiliation by his father, Rajesh, an ex-serviceman, and felt isolated within the family. His anger intensified when he learned that his parents intended to leave their property to his sister in their will.

Arjun planned the murders meticulously, choosing to carry them out on his parents’ wedding anniversary. To create an alibi, he pretended to leave for a morning walk, setting the stage for the brutal killings, which he carried out in the family’s sleep.

The community was left in shock. Arjun’s neighbours described the family, originally from Haryana, as warm and approachable, particularly the mother-daughter duo who were well-liked in the locality. One neighbour, Himani, said, “It’s a horrific incident. Yesterday, I saw the mother and daughter talking and laughing. Today, they’re no longer alive. Crime has become so common, but experiencing it firsthand has completely shaken me.”

Another neighbour, Anjali, echoed the sentiment: “It’s unimaginable that something so tragic could happen to them.”

Arjun’s arrest and the resolution of the case have left the local community grappling with the brutality of the crime and the deep familial tensions that led to it.