A 23-year-old woman in Rajasthan, India, has been arrested on suspicion of orchestrating the murder of her husband, allegedly in collaboration with her long-term boyfriend. The incident, initially presented as a hit-and-run, has revealed a complex web of deceit and a pre-planned attack, according to police investigations.
The victim, identified as Ashish, 27, was walking with his wife, Anjali, in Sri Ganganagar on , just three months after their marriage. The couple were accompanied by Ashish’s cousin, Ankit, and his wife. According to Ankit’s account, Anjali insisted on taking a more secluded route than they usually did. After dropping off Ankit and his wife, Ashish and Anjali continued their walk alone.
What followed was a carefully planned ambush. Anjali’s alleged lover, Sanju, along with three associates – Rocky, Badal, and Siddharth – reportedly lay in wait. The group attacked Ashish, initially striking him with sticks before ultimately strangling him with a muffler. They then fled the scene, leaving Anjali to report the incident as a hit-and-run.
Anjali initially told police that she and her husband had been struck by a vehicle, and also claimed that her gold jewellery had been stolen during the attack. However, investigators quickly became suspicious, noting inconsistencies between Ashish’s injuries and those typically sustained in a road traffic accident. A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that Ashish died as a result of strangulation.
The investigation subsequently uncovered a seven-year relationship between Anjali and Sanju, a waiter whom she had met while attending the same college. Sources indicate that Anjali’s family were aware of the affair and, despite this, arranged her marriage to Ashish, who resided in a village approximately 225 kilometers from Sri Ganganagar.
Police believe that Anjali’s motive stemmed from a desire to escape a marriage she found unsatisfying. She had reportedly attempted to pursue further studies in Sri Ganganagar as a means of distancing herself from Ashish and rekindling her relationship with Sanju, but her husband had opposed the idea. In the days leading up to the murder, Anjali allegedly met with Sanju to finalize the details of the plot.
Phone records corroborated the ongoing relationship between Anjali and Sanju, and demonstrated communication leading up to the attack, solidifying the evidence of a conspiracy.
All five individuals – Anjali, Sanju, Rocky, Badal, and Siddharth – have been taken into custody. The tragedy has left both families devastated, with Ashish’s relatives expressing shock and anger at what they describe as a calculated betrayal.
The case highlights the complexities of arranged marriages and the potential for hidden relationships to escalate into violence. While arranged marriages remain a common practice in many parts of India, this incident underscores the importance of individual agency and the potential consequences of suppressing personal desires.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence to fully understand the circumstances surrounding Ashish’s death and to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice. The case is likely to spark further debate about the pressures faced by women in arranged marriages and the need for greater support systems for those who find themselves in unhappy or abusive relationships.
