Chandigarh/Bathinda: In a major breakthrough, the prime accused Amritpal Singh Mehro in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari, also known as Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, has been arrested from the United Arab Emirates and brought back to India.
According to officials, the Bathinda Police took custody of the accused from UAE authorities after due legal procedures. Mehro had earlier been detained by Sharjah Police in January in connection with a visa-related matter, following which the deportation process was initiated.
The case dates back to June last year, when Kanchan Kumari, a Ludhiana-based influencer, was found murdered. Her body was recovered from a car parked near a private hospital along the Chandigarh national highway in Bathinda, a day after she was allegedly killed.
Investigations revealed that the crime was premeditated, with the accused conducting surveillance on the victim for nearly three months. Police said Mehro and his associates had even stayed near her residence and made multiple attempts to approach her before executing the plan.
On June 8, the accused allegedly contacted the victim under the pretext of a promotional event and lured her to Bathinda. The next day, she travelled from Ludhiana, where she was intercepted by the accused, including associates Jaspreet Singh and Nimrajjit Singh.
As per disclosures during interrogation, the trio first took control of her mobile phones and demanded passwords. When she refused, they assaulted her. Later, in a secluded location, they allegedly strangled her inside her own car and killed her using a sharp-edged weapon.
The police had earlier arrested two co-accused in the case, whose statements helped trace Mehro’s role and movements abroad. Authorities are now expected to intensify the probe to establish the full conspiracy and ensure a strong prosecution.