Man held for killing friend over slap during cannabis session in northeast Delhi

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his friend near the Khajuri Khas Metro Station in northeast Delhi to avenge being slapped in an argument while the two were consuming cannabis, police said on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Shifayat, a resident of Chand Bagh in northeast Delhi, was arrested in connection with the murder of Azharuddin (40), a waiter whose body was recovered on June 8 near the metro station.

According to police, a case was registered at Khajuri Khas Police Station after the semi-decomposed body was discovered.

“Azharuddin, a resident of Chand Bagh, worked as a waiter. Following the recovery of the body, crime and forensic teams inspected the scene. The body was sent for postmortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death,” a senior police officer said.

During the investigation, police analysed technical evidence and other leads, which led to the identification and arrest of Shifayat.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that he and Azharuddin had consumed cannabis in bushes near Khajuri Khas Metro Station on June 5.

Police said an argument broke out between the two over a trivial issue during which Azharuddin allegedly slapped Shifayat.

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“The accused disclosed that the two later started leaving the area when Azharuddin attempted to climb over a wall and fell, sustaining injuries. Harbouring resentment over the earlier altercation, Shifayat allegedly attacked Azharuddin repeatedly with a stone piece, inflicting fatal injuries,” the officer said.

After the murder, the accused covered the body with bricks in an attempt to conceal the crime and fled from the spot, he said.

Further investigation is underway, the officer added.