Police in Rajasthan have arrested four persons, including a young woman and her lover, for allegedly murdering her husband within three months of marriage and attempting to pass it off as a road accident in the Sriganganagar district.
The arrested include Anju alias Anjali (23), her boyfriend Sanju alias Sanjay, and his associates Rohit and Siddharth. The victim, Ashish (27), was found dead on October 30 last year. Initially, the incident was reported to police as a hit-and-run accident involving an unidentified vehicle.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed that the injuries were inconsistent with a road accident and confirmed that Ashish had been strangled to death. Following this, police reopened the case and launched a detailed investigation.
District Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan said Ashish and Anju had married three months earlier, allegedly against Anju’s wishes, as she was in a relationship with Sanju. After the marriage, Anju reportedly expressed her desire to continue her studies and reconnect with Sanju, which Ashish opposed.
Police said Anju later went to her mother’s house, met Sanju and conspired to kill her husband. On the day of the crime, she allegedly lured Ashish out for a walk to a secluded area, where Sanju and his accomplices were waiting. Ashish was strangled using a muffler, and the body was later placed to resemble an accident scene.
Suspicion arose after Anju gave contradictory statements during questioning. Call detail records revealed frequent communication between Anju and Sanju, leading to the arrests. Police said further investigation is under way to determine if more persons were involved.
