New Delhi, Mumbai: National-level kabaddi player Rohit Kumar and his father were on Friday arrested in connection with the alleged suicide of the former’s wife, Lalita, who had once accused him and her in-laws of harassment.
Kumar, who is in the navy, was detained and later arrested by a team of Delhi Police in Mumbai on Friday afternoon, said a senior police officer.
The kabaddi player will be produced in a Mumbai court where police will seek his transit remand to Delhi for further investigation, he said.
Kumar’s father, Vijay Singh, also surrendered around noon and was arrested at the Nangloi police station in Delhi.
Singh was a sub-inspector in Delhi Police and had been dismissed from service, he said.
In a video message released on Facebook on Thursday, Kumar sobbed and pleaded his innocence.
“I have never made any demand for dowry and my father-in-law knows it. I will cooperate with the police in the investigation,” he said.
He said that he “loved his wife” and wants the truth to come out.
“I have played for the country and have never harmed anyone. The person I loved the most has left me forever. Whatever happens, I want the truth to come out. After that, I will also go [to] my baavri [referring to his deceased wife]. I don’t want to live,” he said in the video.
Lalita had allegedly committed suicide on October 17 at her parents’ house in Nangloi and in her suicide note as well as audio and video clips left behind, she had alleged that her in-laws “harassed” her for minor issues and Kumar asked her to get out of his life.
A case was registered against Kumar and his parents and two Delhi Police teams had been formed to arrest them.
Kumar’s parents had left their home in Kanjhawla and gone into hiding after Lalita committed suicide.
