Rajasthan murder case update: Wife’s 7-year affair, husband’s killing planned 16 days earlier
PTC Web Desk: What was first projected as a tragic hit-and-run accident during an evening walk in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar has now turned out to be a cold-blooded and carefully planned murder.
Ashish Kumar (27) was allegedly killed at the behest of his wife, Anjali Kumar (23), who was unhappy with her arranged marriage and wanted to continue a long-term relationship with another man. The police say Anjali conspired with her lover and two accomplices to eliminate her husband and make the crime look like a road accident.
The crime took place on Friday evening on a deserted road in 01KLM village of Sri Ganganagar district. Soon after Ashish was found dead, Anjali told the police that a speeding motorcycle had hit him from behind while the couple was out for a walk. A case of negligent driving was registered and the police initially began searching for the alleged biker. However, the story did not survive the post-mortem.
According to the police, the autopsy revealed multiple injuries that were inconsistent with a road accident. There were clear signs of a violent assault, including a severe head injury and evidence of smothering. “This was not an accident. The injuries pointed towards a brutal attack,” Sri Ganganagar SP Amrita Duhan said. With no proof of a hit-and-run or robbery, investigators began questioning Anjali more closely. Under interrogation, she allegedly broke down and confessed.
Police investigations revealed that Anjali had been in a relationship with Sanjay (25) for nearly seven years. Both are natives of Sadulshahar in Churu district and met while pursuing graduation at a college in Ravla, Sri Ganganagar.
Despite the relationship being known to her family, Anjali was married to Ashish Kumar in October last year. Investigators say she was deeply unhappy with the marriage and continued meeting Sanjay even after her wedding. “The marriage was arranged against her wishes. That resentment ultimately led to the murder,” SP Duhan said.
The killing, the police say, was not impulsive. Anjali allegedly visited her parental home in Sadulshahar around 16 days before the incident, where she and Sanjay finalised the plan to kill Ashish. Two men, Rohit and Siddharth, were brought into the conspiracy. They reportedly conducted a recce of the area where the murder was eventually carried out.
The final trigger, investigators believe, came when Anjali sought Ashish’s permission to return to their old college in Ravla for higher studies. The police say the move was intended to help her meet Sanjay regularly. Ashish refused.
Notably, Ashish had joined a private school as a teacher just three days before he was killed.
On the night of the murder, Anjali allegedly lured Ashish out for an evening walk. She had already alerted Sanjay before leaving home. “When the couple reached the deserted stretch, Sanjay and his accomplices, who were hiding nearby, attacked Ashish with rods and sticks,” SP Duhan said. “After he collapsed, Sanjay smothered him to death.”
Circle Officer Prashant Kaushik confirmed that Anjali allegedly gave a signal to the attackers, after which the assault began.
In an attempt to mislead investigators, Anjali allegedly handed over Ashish’s mobile phone and her earrings to the accused to create the impression of a robbery. She then pretended to be unconscious near the spot.
With Anjali’s confession and supporting evidence, the police arrested all four accused, Anjali Kumar, Sanjay, Rohit and Siddharth. A murder case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
- With inputs from agencies
