Health of 90-year-old ‘mercy murderer' improving: Mumbai police

Purshottam Singh Gandhok

90-year-old retired army veteran Purshottam Singh Gandhok, who killed his ailing wife and mentally challenged daughter on February 6 out of frustration as he had to take care of them, now is in a better health condition after spending time in police custody and Arthur Road jail. Meghwadi police on Friday submitted the 155-page charge sheet before the Andheri Magistrate court, which revealed that Gandhok had been doing all house chores as well as taking care of the two victims alone for 20 long years. Cops told mid-day that Gandhok, when he was arrested, could not walk straight and leaned forward and was very weak, but now he is able to walk properly and even talk with his inmates.

Rest in custody

An officer from Meghwadi police station told mid-day, "When we arrested Purshottam Singh Gandhok, his health was deteriorating. He was unable to stand properly and was too weak. In fact, he used to lean forward while walking and could not walk straight. However, two weeks after his arrest, while in police custody, his health visibly improved. He also walked straight without any support. We gave him food on time and properly took care of him. We also interrogated him in custody but didn't find any other reason behind the murders. We also found out that he wanted to kill himself too, but failed." "After his custody ended, he was sent to Arthur Road Jail where his health improved further. Gandhok is also doing exercise, meditation and some activity there and now he is healthy at the age of 90," he added.

Charge sheet

Senior Inspector Sanjiv Pimple told mid-day, "We filed around 155 pages of charge sheet last Friday at Andheri court after completing our investigation. We only found that he was frustrated with his bedridden wife and mentally challenged daughter and that he had to take care of both of them for the past 20. Gandhok was frustrated, his body was giving up and he didn't know what to do."

Prem Sandesh building in Sher-e-Punjab where the murders took place

It added, "Gandhok had shifted to Prem Sandesh society in Sher-e-Punjab in February, and after 5-6 days he committed the murder." The charge sheet stated that Gandhok was frustrated with all the work he had to do even at his age. It added that as there was no one else to look after his wife Jasbir Kaur, 75, who was bedridden and younger daughter Kamaljeet Kaur, 51 after his death, he killed both of them on February 6.

"Police also recovered a knife which he used to kill his wife and daughter from his residence. The blood stains on the knife matched with the deceaseds," it read. The charge sheet added, "In the investigation police also found out that Gandhok didn't want to trouble his other daughter. After killing his wife and daughter, he called his [other] daughter at home but didn't open the door and called the police. Gandhok also apologised to his wife and daughter after killing them."

Double murder

Gandhok was in the Army in 1976 when he sustained a bullet injury to his leg. He later started driving a car in Mumbai, and then started a small shop. However, he had to shut the shop and had been taking care of his wife and daughter ever since.

On the night of the incident, Gandhok fed his wife and daughter and also gave them medicines. When the two fell asleep, he slit their throats, killing both of them on the spot. He allegedly also tried to take his own life but could not do it.

He spent around 12 hours with the bodies before calling his other daughter, Gurvinder Kaur Rajbans Anand, 58, in the morning, refused to open the door and asked her to inform the police about the murders.