Man accused of murdering his African wife in police custody

A Hyderabad court today remanded a man, accused of murdering his Congolese wife, in three-day police custody, and allowed the police to take DNA sample of the couple's daughter to establish the victim's identity. The metropolitan magistrate's court allowed the application filed by the Central Crime Station of the Cyberabad police for the custody of Rupesh Kumar Mohanani. Mohanani (36) was arrested on July 5 for allegedly strangling his wife Cynthia Vechel, who worked as a club dancer, and burning her body after pouring petrol on it. Police had sought permission for DNA test as the body was charred beyond recognition. "The DNA sample of the girl will help establish identity of the deceased," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police B Sreenivasa Reddy told PTI. On July 7, officials from the Embassy of Congo had met senior police officials and demanded that Cynthia's remains be handed over to them so that they can be sent to her family in Congo. They also sought the custody of Cynthia's daughter, who is currently in the care of Child Welfare Committee of Ranga Reddy district. Mohanani married Cynthia in Congo in 2008 and the couple lived there till 2012 before shifting to India. The couple, which lived in Gachibowli area here, fought frequently over financial issues and Mohanani also suspected her fidelity, police said. According to DCP Sunpreet Singh, the two fought in the wee hours of July 3, following which Mohanani strangled her. To destroy the evidence he cut the body into pieces, stuffed them into a bag and burnt them at Madanpally, on the outskirts of the city. But some locals saw the burning body and caught him.