What initially appeared to be a fatal road accident on a wide, sparsely occupied road in Rajasthan’s Jaipur has, according to the police investigation, unravelled into a meticulously planned murder allegedly masterminded by the victim’s own daughter. The motive, officials claim, was a mix of greed for family property and the prospect of securing a government job on compassionate grounds.
The victim, Neeraj Sharma, had been living in Airport Colony with her daughter Ayushi Sharma and her mentally challenged teenage son. The family had shifted to the house around two-and-a-half years ago after Neeraj’s husband, Vijay Vashisth alias Vijay Sharma, an LDC in a Jaipur court, constructed the property.
A year ago, Vijay Sharma died, leaving behind his wife, daughter and son. His death also opened the door for a compassionate appointment in government service. At the time, Ayushi had recently passed Class 12 and reportedly wanted the job for herself.
According to officials, Neeraj was initially willing to let her daughter take the appointment. However, Neeraj’s brother, who also worked as an LDC in the lower court alongside Vijay Sharma, advised her against it.
He reportedly told his sister that she was educated enough to take the job herself, while their 16-year-old mentally disabled son required lifelong care. He also assured her that Ayushi could continue her education and build a career later.
Neeraj eventually accepted the compassionate appointment, a decision that, police allege, became the turning point in the relationship between mother and daughter.
Soon afterwards, the 24-year-old Ayushi shifted to the family’s old house in Kalyan Colony. She enrolled in an LLB course along with her cousin Balram, the son of her paternal uncle Mohan Swaroop Sharma. Police claim it was during this period that Ayushi allegedly told Balram she wanted her mother eliminated.
Officials said that Ayushi allegedly offered Balram a share in the family’s properties in return for helping execute the plan. According to police, she promised him five bighas of land worth around Rs 5 crore on Agra Road and another four bighas worth nearly Rs 5 crore in Bharatpur. In return, she allegedly expected to inherit the Jaipur properties and become eligible for the compassionate government job after her mother’s death.
Police said that the alleged conspiracy was then shared with Mohan Sharma, Ayushi’s paternal uncle and Balram’s father.
FIRST ATTEMPT FAILED
According to officials, the original plan was to run Neeraj over with a vehicle and make it appear as a road accident.
Police alleged that around a month before the murder, Mohan Sharma contacted Hemant Sharma in Bharatpur. Hemant allegedly attempted to run Neeraj over using a Thar SUV outside her house, but she escaped unharmed. The incident, however, left Neeraj suspicious.
She reportedly informed her brother about the incident and restricted her movements. Officials said that when Neeraj stopped venturing out frequently, Ayushi allegedly resorted to acts intended to frighten her into leaving the house. These included throwing lemons, chillies and red-coloured substances around the residence as part of apparent superstition-related intimidation.
Sensing danger, Neeraj installed mesh screens around the house and fitted four CCTV cameras outside her residence, police said.
A SECOND, MORE ELABORATE CONSPIRACY
Police said that Ayushi continued pressing for another attempt. Mohan Sharma allegedly re-established contact with Hemant Sharma, who demanded Rs 7 lakh to execute the plan.
Officials alleged that Hemant then rented a Haryana-registered Scorpio SUV from Bharatpur for Rs 35,000. He allegedly hired Akash Sharma and Arvind Sharma to carry out the attack, while Rohit and Mohit were tasked with keeping watch on Neeraj’s movements.
THE DAY OF KILLING
On July 4, Neeraj had taken her mentally challenged son for a physiotherapy session. According to the police, Ayushi called her and asked her to return home urgently on the pretext of important work.
As Neeraj walked along the edge of a 60-foot-wide road while returning, Rohit and Mohit, who were allegedly waiting on motorcycles, signalled to Akash, who was sitting inside the waiting Scorpio.
Police allege that the SUV accelerated to over 100 kmph before deliberately ramming into Neeraj. The impact allegedly flung her nearly 100 metres, killing her on the spot.
After the incident, officials say Ayushi called her maternal uncle in tears and informed him that her mother had died in a road accident. Mohan Sharma allegedly reached the spot soon afterwards and took the body to their native village in Rupwas.
Despite the accident narrative, Neeraj’s brother reportedly sensed something was amiss after observing Ayushi’s behaviour. Rather than alleging murder outright, he simply requested the police to thoroughly investigate the accident.
The CCTV footage became the turning point.
According to police, the footage showed Neeraj walking at the extreme edge of an almost empty road, leaving little reason for a speeding vehicle to hit her. Further examination of cameras installed nearby allegedly revealed a Scorpio waiting at a distance before the collision, while two men were seen stationed separately along the route.
Officials also found that after the collision, the two men walked away without approaching the victim and later left the area on a motorcycle.
Following the CCTV trail, police traced the damaged Scorpio. The vehicle’s owner allegedly told police it had been rented to Hemant Sharma. Hemant, in turn, allegedly named Mohan Sharma during questioning.
Meanwhile, Balram absconded.
ARREST AND CONFESSION
Police teams later reached Rupwas village, where Ayushi was present. According to officials, the law student initially tried to intimidate the police. With assistance from local police personnel and villagers, officers persuaded Ayushi and her aunt to accompany them to the police station on the pretext of recording statements.
Her aunt was later allowed to leave, while Ayushi was brought to Jaipur for questioning.
Police claim that during interrogation, and after being confronted with the other accused, Ayushi confessed to her role in the conspiracy.
Officials said that she had shown no remorse during questioning. Officers claim she continues to respond evasively to their questions. When approached by India Today TV, Ayushi declined to comment on the allegations against her.
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