The Shocking Tale of the Tandoor Murder Case in Delhi
A Night of Horror in Delhi
July 2, 1995 Gol Market, New Delhi Government Flat No. 8/2A 8:30 PM
Suddenly, gunfire erupted from Government Flat No. 8/2A, leading neighbors to believe it was merely firecrackers.
After a brief silence, the flat's door swung open, and a man dragged a heavy object wrapped in plastic out of the flat. He placed it in the trunk of a parked car and sped away.
The car stopped near Ashok Yatri Niwas in Connaught Place, where diners were still enjoying their meals. The man exited the vehicle and approached the restaurant manager, Keshav.
The Tandoor Murder Case
It was none other than Sushil Sharma, the President of the Delhi Youth Congress, and the object in the plastic was his wife, Naina Sahni. Today, we delve into the infamous Tandoor Murder Case. Let's start from the beginning.
In 1995, Sushil Sharma was a dedicated member of the Congress Youth Wing. During this time, he met Naina Sahni, and their relationship blossomed into love, leading to marriage. Naina completed her studies at DU and obtained a commercial pilot license, while Sushil was appointed as the Youth Congress president.
Suspicions Arise
However, as time passed, tensions grew between Sushil and Naina. Noticing her frequent phone conversations, Sushil began to suspect infidelity. This led to numerous arguments, while Naina contemplated pursuing her dream of becoming a pilot in Australia.
On July 2, 1995, Naina was on the phone, holding a glass of vodka when Sushil returned home.
Naina offered Sushil a drink, but he declined. Distrust clouded his mind as he wondered who she was speaking to. When Naina left the room, Sushil seized the opportunity to pick up the phone and redial. A male voice answered, and Sushil recognized it as that of Matloob Karim.
Who is Matloob Karim?
This was the man Sushil suspected of having an affair with Naina. Furious, he confronted her, asking why her feelings for Matloob hadn't faded. Naina's response infuriated him further, leading to a tragic escalation.
Sushil rushed to the drawer, retrieved a pistol, loaded it, and shot Naina three times. She collapsed, blood pooling on the floor. In a panic, Sushil decided to dispose of her body.
Disposing of the Body
By 10 PM, Sushil wrapped Naina's body in a bedsheet and loaded it into his Maruti 800. He drove to Nizamuddin's Yamuna Bridge but couldn't bring himself to discard the body due to heavy traffic. Instead, he headed to his restaurant, Bagiya.
Upon arrival, Sushil instructed Keshav to close the restaurant and turn off the lights. However, the tandoor was still burning, a common sight in the area. What transpired next was unprecedented.
With only Keshav and Sushil present, they began dismembering Naina's body using restaurant knives and placed the pieces into the tandoor. The tandoor's size made it impossible to fit the entire body at once, necessitating the gruesome task of cutting it up.
Adding Butter to the Flames
To intensify the fire, Sushil asked Keshav to fetch butter, which was readily available. As they added it to the flames, the fire blazed higher, catching the attention of a nearby vegetable vendor, Anaro, who mistook it for a fire.
Her screams alerted Abdul Nazir Gunjoo, a police officer on patrol. He rushed to the restaurant, leading to the horrifying discovery of the crime.
Gunjoo suspected something was amiss and called for the fire brigade. Upon arrival, Sushil had already fled.
When questioned, Keshav claimed he was burning old Congress posters. However, Gunjoo's suspicions grew, and with the help of locals, they extinguished the fire. What they found inside the tandoor was shocking: charred body parts. A DNA test later confirmed the remains belonged to Naina.
The Aftermath
The incident shocked the entire city, leading to a massive manhunt for Sushil. He eventually surrendered on July 10, 1995. The trial commenced, and on November 7, 2003, Sushil was sentenced to death, while Keshav received a seven-year sentence.
Sushil was briefly released on parole in 2015 and was ultimately freed in December 2018 after serving 23 years. His current whereabouts remain unknown to all but a few close family members.