By IANS
Chicago : An Indian American man – who had come here from Ambala – accused of starting a fire that killed his pregnant daughter, son-in-law and grandson in suburban Chicago two days before New Year has been indicted in their deaths, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Subhash Chander, 57, who has been held without bail, appeared in the local court where the state attorney announced the indictment. The charges run to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of intentional homicide of an unborn child and one count of aggravated arson.
Authorities allege that Chander used petrol to ignite the apartment complex in Oak Forest where his daughter, Monika Rani, 22, lived with her husband, Rajesh Kumar, 36, and their three-year-old son Vansh. Chander, originally from Ambala in Haryana, used to work at a petrol pump.
Initial reports said Chander allegedly started the fire because he was upset that his daughter married Kumar – a man from a lower caste – without his consent. But Kumar’s parents have said later that Chander was upset with his daughter and her family because they would not give him any more money to support his drinking.
The blaze gutted the 36-unit apartment building where Rani’s family lived.
Chander is scheduled to appear for his arraignment on Feb 4.