A woman captured on CCTV footage moments before a devastating fire killed three members of a family in South East Delhi’s Govindpuri area has emerged as a key focus of the investigation, with police now probing the possibility of a conspiracy behind the tragedy.
The fire broke out in the early hours of June 12 in a four-storey residential building, claiming the lives of three members of a family and leaving two others critically injured. While initial inquiries pointed towards a possible electrical short circuit, investigators are now examining evidence suggesting the blaze may have been deliberately triggered.
According to police sources, CCTV footage recorded around 2:23 am shows a woman with her face covered entering the building. Seconds after she went inside, a bright flash or fireball is visible from within the premises. The footage then shows the woman exiting the building and walking away.
Investigators believe the sequence of events is significant and are treating the woman as a crucial suspect in the case. Police have since identified her and are conducting raids to trace and apprehend her.
“The woman’s movements before and after the fire are under close scrutiny. Her questioning could help establish whether the blaze was accidental or part of a larger conspiracy,” a police source said.
The fire broke out shortly afterwards, prompting a PCR call at around 2:31 am. Firefighters and police personnel rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations as thick smoke engulfed the building.
Three members of the same family — 28-year-old Pankaj, his 70-year-old maternal grandmother Sushila Devi and his 20-year-old sister Soni — died in the blaze. Two other relatives, Pankaj’s mother Guddi Devi and his younger sister Moni, sustained severe injuries and remain hospitalised in critical condition.
Forensic experts and crime scene investigators have examined the building and collected technical and physical evidence. Police are analysing CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic findings to reconstruct the events leading up to the fire.
Officials said the investigation remains at a crucial stage. While the exact cause of the blaze has not yet been established, the presence of the woman at the scene shortly before the fire has strengthened suspicions that the deadly incident may not have been accidental.
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