A fresh development has emerged in the Uttam Nagar murder case after a man claiming to be a witness alleged that he was assaulted and threatened by a relative of the accused. The incident led to a gathering outside the Uttam Nagar police station late Monday night, although police later said the situation in the area was normal.
The witness is the uncle of 26-year-old Tarun Butolia, who was killed in March this year. According to the man’s allegation, he was returning from work when he was allegedly surrounded by a person identified as Golu, said to be connected to the accused’s family. He claimed that he was slapped and that another person accompanying Golu attempted to assault him.
The witness further alleged that he was warned against giving evidence in the murder case and was asked to withdraw the case. His allegations have not been independently established, and police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the reported incident.
The alleged assault quickly drew people to the area. According to police, dozens of people gathered outside the Uttam Nagar police station at around 10–11pm on Monday following reports of the incident.
The case relates to the death of Tarun Butolia, who was allegedly attacked on March 4 following a dispute during Holi celebrations. According to the report, the confrontation began after a coloured water balloon thrown by a minor from Butolia’s family landed on a woman and splashed water on her clothes. What began as an argument subsequently escalated into a violent clash.
Butolia was allegedly attacked with sticks, bats and rods during the confrontation. The incident had also resulted in communal tension in the locality at the time.
Police later filed a chargesheet naming more than 18 people, including two minors, in connection with the murder case.
Following Monday night’s developments, police increased their presence in the area as a precaution. Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police Kushal Pal Singh said a PCR call had been received regarding an incident in Uttam Nagar.
The SHO and police personnel immediately reached the location and assessed the situation. According to the DCP, the police found that rumours had contributed to the gathering.
“On verification, the situation was found to be normal and no untoward incident had taken place,” the officer said, according to Hindustan Times.
Police subsequently deployed additional personnel in the locality to prevent any escalation. Officers also appealed to residents not to believe or circulate unverified information.
The latest development has added another layer to the ongoing murder case, particularly because the alleged witness has claimed that he was pressured not to testify. Any such allegation could become significant for the investigation if supported by evidence.
For now, police are maintaining a cautious approach and have urged people to rely only on verified information. The investigation into the original murder case and the fresh allegations surrounding the witness remain ongoing.
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