JAIPUR: A 45-year-old man allegedly killed his wife and three daughters at their home in Jaipur’s Kardhani area on Friday morning before making tea for his elderly father, taking a bath and leaving the house. The bodies were discovered more than two hours later, leaving investigators searching for a possible motive behind the killings. Police identified the suspect as Rahul Jha. The victims were his wife, Geeta, 40, and their daughters Nandani, 23, Radhika, 17, and Gracia, also known as Gauri, 14. Their bodies were found in separate rooms of their house at plot A-169 in Govind Vatika. According to police, Rahul’s father, Laxmi Nath Jha, woke up as usual on Friday morning. Rahul reportedly asked him whether he wanted tea, went out to collect milk from a milkman around 7am and then prepared tea in the kitchen. After serving it to his father, Rahul allegedly shaved, took a bath and left the house. The crime came to light around 9.30am when Laxmi Nath noticed blood inside the house. Due to his age and health problems, he struggled to get out of bed and called out to a neighbour through a common wall. The neighbour entered the house, discovered the four bodies and alerted other residents and the police.

Police are investigating several possible motives, including financial difficulties and an alleged marital dispute. However, relatives said they had not noticed any signs of trouble within the family. Rahul’s niece, Simran, said the family appeared normal until Thursday night. She recalled speaking to Geeta over a video call and said she had not noticed anything unusual. Geeta reportedly ran a beauty parlour, while her eldest daughter Nandani had recently joined a private company in its accounts department. Simran said the family was struggling to understand what could have led to the killings. Rahul reportedly ran a small business and was also involved in stock trading. Police sources said all four victims had suffered blunt-force injuries to the head. A stone allegedly used in the killings has also been recovered.

Investigators are examining whether the murders were pre-planned or occurred during a sudden dispute. However, police are considering the possibility of a deliberate multiple murder, as Rahul allegedly had enough time after the killings to wash his hands, take a bath, pack some essentials and leave the house. Investigators are also trying to establish the sequence of events, as neither Laxmi Nath nor neighbours reported hearing screams or unusual noises during the night or early morning. One line of investigation is whether the victims were given food or a drink containing a sedative before the attack. However, police said this possibility can only be confirmed after toxicology reports are received. The exact time of death of the four victims has also not yet been established. ACP (Jhotwara) Shiv Kumar Bhardwaj said police were investigating all possible motives behind the murders. A police team is conducting searches to locate Rahul, who investigators suspect may have taken his ATM cards with him while leaving his mobile phone behind.