Delhi House Help Murder Case: Dermatologist allegedly argued with wife over firing her

New Delhi: A domestic dispute reportedly linked to the possible removal of a long-time househelp may have played a key role in a shocking murder case in South Delhi, where a dermatologist has been arrested for allegedly killing a 45-year-old woman employed at his residence.

The victim, who had worked as a domestic help in the doctor's household for nearly 15 years, was allegedly attacked on Thursday morning inside the doctor’s residence. Police said she was struck with a cricket bat and later stabbed with a knife.

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Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a dermatologist had been arrested for allegedly murdering his domestic help after the body of a woman was found in a pool of blood on the terrace of a building in South Delhi's upscale Mount Kailash area on Thursday.

Investigators believe the incident may have been preceded by a dispute over the victim’s continued employment in the household. According to senior police officials, the dermatologist had recently argued with his wife about removing the domestic help from their home. His wife, an Ayurvedic practitioner, reportedly opposed the decision, pointing out that the victim had served the family for many years and had cared for the dermatologist’s mother during her illness.

Investigators suspect the dispute may have affected the dermatologist psychologically, with officials suggesting he may have felt overshadowed by the domestic worker’s long-standing role in the family. Police also believe there may have been a brief argument between the dermatologist and the victim shortly before the attack.

Authorities said the dermatologist has a long history of mental health treatment, including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and has been on medication for nearly a decade.

According to the news reports, police received an emergency call around 11:36 am reporting a woman lying in a pool of blood on the terrace of a nearby building. When officers arrived, they found the dermatologist at the scene along with the victim’s body. He reportedly told police, “I am surrendering.” A blood-stained cricket bat and knife were recovered from the location. Neighbours and domestic workers said they heard screams shortly before the incident came to light.

The dermatologist's wife was not at home at the time, as she was in a nursing home.

The victim’s family members said she left for work as usual on the morning of the incident and later received news of her death through a phone call. They have questioned the circumstances and said they were initially not given clear information about what had happened.

Speaking to NDTV, her brother said, "Every day she used to leave for work as usual. I was informed by relatives that my sister had been killed. When I reached there, the police did not allow me to see her body. We only came to know later what had happened."

Her son said, "My mother worked very hard to run the house for years when I was a kid. She provided us with the best life. I can't believe she was brutally killed for no reason. She never took leave; she always showed up on time. She always listened to them. Why did they do this? My mother was lying in a pool of blood. It looks like he stabbed her multiple times. Why? I want answers. My mother always praised them. She worked there for more than 10-12 years," reports Hindustan Times.

Neighbours, however, expressed mixed reactions, with some saying they had never observed any unusual behaviour from the accused dermatologist. "We never had any problem with his behaviour. His wife is also a very decent lady," the neighbour said.

The accused did his MBBS from the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College in Jaipur in 1999. He then worked as a resident doctor at GB Pant Hospital in Delhi in 2000 and at AIIMS Delhi a year after that. He got his medical degree in dermatology in 2005 and started private practice in Mount Kailash in 2006, reports NDTV.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area and recording statements from witnesses, family members, and neighbours as part of their ongoing investigation.

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