A chilling criminal conspiracy has unfolded in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, where a married woman orchestrated her husband's murder alongside her boyfriend. After executing the gruesome crime, the perpetrators attempted to disguise the incident as a routine road accident to mislead investigators, but police unraveled the conspiracy through thorough probe. Authorities have successfully arrested four individuals connected to the case and sent them to judicial custody, registering a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
How the Fatal Plot Unfolded
According to law enforcement details, the incident took place on the night of August 30. The victim, Harishchandra Agrahari, son of the late Ram Ghulam and a resident of Kapiyawa village under the Itwa police station limits, was killed near the Muhachorwa Ghat close to the Budhi Rapti River. Following the attack, the assailants disposed of his body in the river. To make the scene look like a tragic collision, his e-rickshaw was positioned in a way that hung dangerously toward the water, giving the false impression of a vehicle accident.
Illicit Affair and Domestic Strife
Initially, the occurrence appeared to be an accidental mishap, but the situation shifted dramatically when the post-mortem examination report revealed that the cause of death was stab wounds from a knife rather than impact injuries. Prompted by this revelation, investigators widened their inquiry. Police interrogation brought to light that the victim's wife, Maya Devi, was involved in an extramarital affair with Niyaz Ahmad. According to investigators, Niyaz Ahmad used to bear the expenses of Maya Devi.
Investigators further stated that Harishchandra was addicted to alcohol and frequently subjected his wife to physical abuse while intoxicated. Distressed by this continuous ordeal, Maya Devi wanted to eliminate her husband permanently. The allegations indicate that she had been pressuring her boyfriend Niyaz Ahmad for several months to arrange for Harishchandra's murder.
Contract Killing Arranged for Cash
Based on police findings, succumbing to the persistent pressure, Niyaz Ahmad formulated a plan to execute Harishchandra and enlisted two of his acquaintances, offering them a sum of 1.10 lakh rupees to carry out the murder. Executing their strategy, the conspirators booked Harishchandra's e-rickshaw under the pretext of traveling to Barhni. They took him to an isolated spot near the Muhachorwa Ghat, where they launched a fatal knife attack.
Arrest and Recovery of the Weapon
Following the crime, the suspects threw the body into the Budhi Rapti River and staged the e-rickshaw to mislead the police and grieving relatives. However, the post-mortem report dismantled their fabricated narrative. Acting on a tip-off received by SOG in-charge Inspector Mithilesh Rai on September 8, the police force surrounded the suspects and apprehended three of them. Based on their disclosure, the knife used in the murder was subsequently recovered from the Muhachorwa Ghat area.
Police have formally arrested all four accused persons, including Maya Devi, Niyaz Ahmad, Irshad, and Abdullah, placing them under judicial custody while further investigations into the matter continue.
