JAIPUR: A 23-year-old woman allegedly plotted with her relatives to murder her mother in a bid to gain control of family property and secure a government job on compassionate grounds in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, police said on Tuesday. The accused allegedly attempted to disguise the murder as a road accident. The woman, identified as Ayushi, was arrested along with six others, including her uncle and cousin, in connection with the case. One accused remains absconding, police said according to news agency PTI. According to investigators, the victim, Neeraj Sharma (45), a resident of Ravindra Nagar in Pratap Nagar, died on July 3 after being struck by a speeding Scorpio vehicle. Initially, the incident appeared to be a road accident. However, suspicions were raised when the victim’s brother, Rakesh, filed a complaint alleging foul play and named his niece and several others in the FIR. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Ranjita Sharma said the investigation revealed that the incident was a planned murder. “During the investigation, it emerged that the death was not accidental but a pre-planned murder. The accused had hired assailants to kill the woman and tried to present it as a road accident,” Sharma said. Police said Neeraj had obtained a clerical job (LDC) in a court on compassionate grounds after the death of her husband, Vijay Kumar Sharma, around a year ago. Investigators believe Ayushi wanted the position for herself. “In her statement, the accused said she had asked her mother to let her take the job after her father’s death, but her mother took the position instead. This led to stress,” the officer said. According to police, Ayushi later conspired with her uncle and cousin to kill her mother so she could claim both the government job and family property. All seven accused involved in the case have been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace and arrest the remaining suspect, police said.
