A case initially reported as the disappearance of a 10-month-old infant in Delhi’s Mukundpur area took a serious turn after police detained the child’s father on suspicion of murder.

According to police sources cited in reports, the father allegedly confessed during questioning after investigators found inconsistencies in his account of the incident.

Police suspect that the accused may have administered an intoxicating substance to his wife and elder daughter before allegedly killing the infant during the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Authorities further suspect that the child’s body was disposed of in a septic tank, and search operations are currently underway to recover the remains.The family had first informed police that the infant went missing early Sunday morning when the father had reportedly stepped out to buy milk.The child’s grandfather told reporters that the family and neighbours searched extensively before contacting the police.Initially, the matter was treated as a possible kidnapping case, leading to panic in the local area and deployment of crime and local police teams.

The child’s mother stated that she and her elder daughter were found unconscious inside the house and regained consciousness only after the father woke them up.She said the family then realised the youngest child was missing.Police are continuing their investigation and are also examining whether other family members had any role in the incident.The accused remains under interrogation while forensic and recovery efforts continue.