‘Inspired by Hollywood series The Staircase’, Delhi man allegedly kills wife: How the plot fell apart for him

During interrogation, Kamal Singh allegedly told police he planned murder because of a long-standing dispute over family property.

A 53-year-old man allegedly killed his wife inside their home over a property dispute before fleeing with lakhs of rupees in cash. The incident took place in Gagan Vihar residence in Delhi's Shahdara.

During interrogation, police said, the man told investigators that he had been influenced by a Hollywood crime series, ‘The Staircase’, and believed disposing of the weapon would help him evade the investigators.

‘The Staircase’ is a 2022 biographical crime drama mini-series starring Colin Firth, Toni Collette, and Michael Stuhlbarg. It is based on the true story of crime novelist Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen after she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. The subject was also made into a documentary earlier.

Murder discovered after son returned home

In the Delhi case, the accused, identified as Kamal Singh, was arrested near the Mathura Railway Station following a multi-state search launched by the Shahdara district police, news agency PTI reported.

Officers said he had attempted to stay ahead of investigators by frequently changing his route, but technical surveillance eventually led them to his location.

The case surfaced on the night of July 30 when the couple's son returned to their residence in Gagan Vihar, Shahdara, and found his 50-year-old mother, Komal Singh, lying in a pool of blood.

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During the initial investigation, police recovered what they believe was the weapon used in the attack. “A blood-stained pair of scissors, suspected to be the weapon used in the crime, was recovered from a bag (in the house),” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

CCTV footage became the turning point

Reportedly, CCTV footage played a crucial role in reconstructing what happened inside the house.

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The footage showed that after the couple's two children left home in the morning, only Kamal Singh and his wife remained inside the residence.

Police said the recordings also captured the victim's screams before the accused was seen leaving the house with a bag in which the suspected weapon had been concealed.

Cash withdrawals and changing route

Police said the accused had withdrawn around ₹7 lakh from his bank accounts before disappearing.

“Probe revealed that Singh had withdrawn around ₹7 lakh from his bank accounts before going into hiding. Technical surveillance tracked his movement from Delhi towards Gorakhpur, where he allegedly planned to escape to Nepal before abruptly changing course and heading towards Mathura to throw investigators off the trail,” the officer said.

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The search ended near Mathura Railway Station, where officers intercepted him. Police said they recovered ₹12.75 lakh in cash along with a scooter that was allegedly used during his escape after the murder.

Police say murder was planned in advance

During interrogation, Kamal Singh allegedly admitted that the killing had been planned because of a long-standing dispute over family property. Investigators said he had bought the scissors used in the crime a few days before the incident.

Police further said the accused claimed he was influenced by ‘The Staircase’ and believed getting rid of the weapon would make it difficult for investigators to solve the case.

“He also confessed that he intended to dispose of the weapon after watching The Staircase, believing it would frustrate the investigation. The team, however, said scientific investigation, CCTV analysis and technical surveillance dismantled the carefully planned escape strategy,” the officer said.

Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More