Haryana Congress worker Himani Narwal, seen in Bharat Jodo Yatra, murdered; body found in suitcase; accused alleges blackmail

The suspect arrested for the murder has admitted to the crime, revealing to police during interrogation that they had been in a relationship for a long time, sources said, according to the report.

The accused, Sachin, was arrested in Delhi on Monday, two days after police recovered Himani’s body.

Himani’s mobile phone was also retrieved from Sachin at the time of his arrest.

A resident of Bahadurgarh in Haryana, Sachin claimed that Himani had extorted several lakhs from him and was demanding more money.

He also accused her of blackmailing him. Frustrated by her repeated demands, he confessed to killing her at her residence in Rohtak.

Victim gained prominence after Bharat Jodo Yatra

Himani, who lived in her ancestral house in Rohtak’s Vijay Nagar, had gained attention after images of her walking with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra went viral.

According to police sources, the suitcase in which her body was found belonged to her.

Sachin told police that after killing Himani, he stuffed her body inside the suitcase and abandoned it at the bus stand.

Family demands death penalty for the accused

Himani’s family had refused to cremate her body until the perpetrator was caught.

Following Sachin’s arrest, they reiterated their demand for the strictest punishment.

"One accused has been arrested, and today we will cremate her (Himani Narwal). A lot of rumours are being spread in the media... We will get justice... We want the death penalty for the accused," her brother Jatin told ANI.

Mother suspects political conspiracy

Earlier, Himani’s mother, Savita, claimed that the murder could have been an inside job, pointing to potential jealousy inside the Congress party over her daughter’s rapid rise.

"It could be anyone in the party who was jealous about her rise, or it could be anyone else," she said, hinting at a possible political motive behind the crime.