Kumar worked at Dimple Cable Network, run by Surbhi’s uncle Aneesh Kapoor. He was asked to look for a job a couple of days ago though the family did not cite any reason for their displeasure with him. They allowed him to continue working till he found a new job. Kumar has told the police that he did not understand why he had been shown the door though he had “done good business for the family over the last 12 years”.

Though the police had earlier ruled out robbery as a motive, officers said on Friday that Kumar’s account suggests that “theft was one of the reasons” behind the break-in. Kumar told officers that he wanted to loot the Rs 25,000 kept in the house — money he had collected the day before from cable subscribers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Manish Agrawal said, “Once he entered the house, well past the time the family had gone to sleep, his main destination was Surbhi’s parents Dinesh and Seema’s room. However, he was noticed by Surbhi in the act, which is when he killed her.”