New Delhi, Nov 15 : A fashion designer and her domestic help were allegedly killed by her tailor and his two accomplices in her home in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj Enclave locality following a dispute over unpaid dues, police said on Thursday.

The bodies of 53-year-old Maya Lakhani, who ran a boutique called Tulsi Creations in Green Park, and her house help, 50-year-old Bahadur, were found with multiple stab injuries in the bungalow in the early hours of Thursday.

The accused looted jewellery and ransacked the house after killing the two Wednesday night, police said, estimating that the incident took place between 10 pm and 11.30 pm

Rahul Anwar (24), the master tailor who worked with Lakhani, his cousin Rahmat (24) and his friend Wasim (25) have been arrested in connection with the killings, a senior police officer said.

Around 2.45 am, the three men went to the Vasant Kunj (south) police station and said they have killed two people in Vasant Kunj Enclave, following which officials rushed to the spot to verify the details.

They found the bodies lying in a pool of blood.

A case has been registered and the three accused arrested, Devender Arya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) said. Police said Lakhani had set up a tailoring workshop in her home.

During interrogation, the three said they had hatched a conspiracy to kill her. After committing the crime, they said they stole valuable items, including jewellery, from the house and left in Lakhani's car.

Anwar told police he had been working with Lakhani for a while. His payments were due for the last few months and he had received money in instalments, police said.

The crime scene has been preserved and the bodies sent for a post-mortem examination, police said, adding that further investigations are in progress.

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Nainital (PTI): The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday reprimanded gym operator Deepak Kumar, who shot into the limelight as “Mohammad Deepak” for taking on Bajrang Dal activists allegedly harassing a Muslim shopkeeper, and asked how can an accused seek police protection.

A single-bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, while hearing Kumar's plea seeking quashing of the FIR, verbally reprimanded him, objecting to his inclusion of unnecessary requests like seeking police protection and action against police officers for alleged 'biased' conduct.

The bench termed such petitions as pressure tactics aimed at influencing the ongoing investigation and sensationalising the entire matter.

The court also questioned the petitioner's justification for seeking police protection when he himself is a "suspected accused."

The court on Tuesday directed the state authorities to file status reports on the action taken in all the FIRs related to the incident.

A case has been registered against Kumar for rioting, causing hurt, and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace in connection with an incident that occurred on January 26 in Kotdwar.

Deepak Kumar allegedly clashed with Bajrang Dal members who objected to a Muslim shopkeeper, Vakil Ahmed, naming his shop "Baba" in Kotdwar. A video of the incident went viral on social media.

Kumar has approached the high court seeking quashing of the FIR.

In the petition, Kumar also requested the court direct the registration of an FIR under Section 196 of the BNS against those who allegedly made the hate speeches. The petition also requests police protection for Kumar and his family and a departmental inquiry against police officers allegedly responsible for partisan conduct.

During the hearing, the high court expressed concern about the validity of such petitions, saying they were a way to "pressure the investigating agency."

The investigating officer also stated that the petitioner was not in any danger.

The high court questioned the petitioner's rationale for requesting protection despite being a suspected accused himself.

The court remarked that the petitioner is a 'suspected accused' today, and how can a person who is under investigation and is a 'suspected accused' receive police protection.

The bench stated that such relief at this stage is completely unnecessary and appears to be an attempt to pressure the investigating agency.

The court also took a serious view of the request for a departmental inquiry against the police officers and remarked that in the absence of any evidence on record to prove the allegations, making such a request while the inquiry was pending was merely an attempt to influence the proceedings.

During the hearing, it was brought to the court's attention that two FIRs were registered based on the petitioner's complaint. If there is any such complaint, it will also be presented to the court on Friday.

During the hearing, the high court also inquired about the funds the petitioner allegedly received from his supporters following the incident.

According to Deepak, he received approximately Rs 80,000 in donations after the incident, following which he ceased all activity on the account.