Neha Shoree Neha Shoree

The husband of Punjab Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officer Dr Neha Shoree has rejected the theory that she was gunned down by a pharmacist whose licence was cancelled ten years ago, and has called for a CBI inquiry into the case. Varun Monga further said he suspected the murder was a conspiracy with the involvement of the drug mafia, and it could have also been due to professional rivalry.

Speaking to the media for the first time since Shoree was shot dead on March 29, Monga also said his wife may have been pregnant at the time of her murder.

At the scene of the crime. (Express photo) At the scene of the crime. (Express photo)

Rejecting the theory that his wife — Punjab Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officer Dr Neha Shoree — was gunned down by a pharmacist because she had cancelled his licence ten years ago, Varun Monga called for a CBI inquiry into the case. He further said he suspected that the murder was a conspiracy with the involvement of the drug mafia, and it could have also been due to professional rivalry.

Speaking to the media for the first time since Shoree was shot dead on March 29, Varun also said that his wife may have been pregnant at the time of her murder. Shoree’s father said he was not aware of the same, while the doctor who performed the autopsy said he would have to check the report.

“I am sure Balwinder Singh (accused) was hired by someone to kill my wife. It could be a case of contract killing. I am also not sure whether Balwinder Singh shot himself,’’ he said, adding that he wanted to meet Chief Minister Amarinder Singh regarding the case.

Also read | Chandigarh FDA officer shot dead, assailant commits suicide while trying to escape

Varun also expressed suspicion about how the police had concluded within 24 hours of the murder that Balwinder nursed a grudge against his wife for cancelling his licence way back in 2009. ‘’It is a fabricated conclusion. We are demanding a CBI probe to speed up the investigation. I have engaged a senior advocate, who also suggested that we seek a CBI probe. There is enough evidence, I request the police to gather it promptly,” Monga told Newsline.

At the funeral at Mani Majra cremation ground, At the funeral at Mani Majra cremation ground, Chandigarh . (Express Photo: Jaipal Singh)

The banker also said it was strange that Balwinder Singh had been spotted outside the government building where his wife used to work, but no one had seen him inside it earlier. “How was he so sure about where my wife’s office was? I have no doubt that he might have been guided by someone inside. Issuing him an arms licence and equipping him with a weapon is all part of a conspiracy,” he claimed.

Varun did not rule out the possibility of a professional rivalry either. He said, “A team of senior Punjab police officers came to record my statement yesterday. I told them about all possible angles. I don’t mean that someone from my wife’s department was involved in this case, but she did tell me once that there are some people who wanted her post in Kharar. I also informed police about an old property dispute between our family members as well.”

His mother-in-law Manju Monga said, “It is strange that a man thought of taking revenge after 10 years.” Shoree was the Zonal Licensing Authority at Punjab Food and Drug Administration office in Kharar. She is survived by a two-year-old daughter.

PMO reaches out to kin

The Prime Ministers’ Office on Tuesday responded to Dr Neha Shoree’s father Capt KK Shoree (retd) and elder brother Nishant’s letter demanding a CBI probe into the murder. The family had emailed the PMO on Monday. Capt Shoree said, “We were informed that our application was forwarded to Governor House in Chandigarh for an inquiry.”

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