Ludhiana double murder began as loan plea, distant relative turned on his elderly benefactors.

Ludhiana: A cash-strapped mechanic who often ran errands for an elderly couple is under arrest on the charges of bludgeoning them to death after spotting cash in their wardrobe.Police said Pardeep Singh, 34, had allegedly killed his distant relatives for ₹60,000, two mobile phones, and a few pieces of gold jewellery to recoup a mortgaged car. Police said the attack was spontaneous, occurring after the couple had refused to give Pardeep Singh more than ₹1,000 during an argument.A Deadly EscalationAdditional deputy commissioner of police Karanveer Singh said the suspect had visited the home on May 28 to borrow money. Kuldeep Singh and his wife, the sister of Pardeep’s grandfather, paid Pardeep Singh frequently for handling household chores because their children lived abroad.The situation turned violent after the woman opened a wardrobe to hand the suspect ₹1,000, inadvertently revealing a larger stash of cash. When Kuldeep Singh refused Pardeep’s demands for more money, a minor dispute broke out.Hours later, while Kuldeep Singh was preparing tea in the kitchen, the suspect allegedly grabbed a heavy machine bearing found on the property and struck him. The wounded man retreated to the bedroom, where the suspect assaulted him again before turning the weapon on the wife, killing both.The killings went unnoticed until the couple’s daughter, Jyoti, called from abroad on May 29. The suspect answered the phone and attempted to impersonate her father. Recognising the voice was a fraud, Jyoti alerted other relatives. The suspect then panicked and dumped the phones outside the home before his arrest.