Wife Killed Husband, Dumped His Body in River, Then Filed Missing Person Report: Barabanki Court Sentences Woman And Her Lover To Life Imprisonment

Can a wife file a missing-person report after her husband disappears and later be convicted in his murder conspiracy? The Barabanki court sentenced her, her lover and an aide to life after finding that the husband was killed and his body dumped in the Gomti River.

UTTAR PRADESH: A Barabanki court has sentenced a woman, her lover and their associate to rigorous life imprisonment for the murder of her husband, nearly seven years after his body was recovered from the Gomti River.

Additional District Judge Asad Ahmed Hashmi convicted the deceased man’s wife along with two other accused. The court sentenced all three to life imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000 each.

The case began on March 22, 2019, when a 40-year-old man from Barabanki left his home at around 8:30 pm and did not return. His wife later filed a missing-person report at the local police station.

A few days later, a body was found floating in the Gomti River. It was recovered, and samples were sent for DNA examination. A post-mortem was also conducted. The medical examination indicated that Arun had suffered a violent death and had been murdered.

The investigation took a crucial turn when the deceased man's brother, Chandresh Verma, started contacting people in nearby villages to learn about his brother's last movements.

According to the prosecution, the inquiry revealed that Pradeep Loniya was in a relationship with Renu. This brought the alleged relationship and the movements of the three accused under investigation.

The prosecution alleged that one of the accused took the husband to another accused’s house on the night he disappeared as part of a planned conspiracy. A meat-and-liquor gathering was held there.

After the gathering, two accused allegedly began taking the husband back home when his condition worsened.

The prosecution further alleged that, on the wife’s instructions, the two men again took him on a motorcycle, with the husband seated between them.

During the journey, he allegedly suffered a serious head injury and was killed. His body was later dumped in the Gomti River to conceal the crime.

After examining the evidence placed before it, the Barabanki court concluded that the killing was premeditated and committed in furtherance of a conspiracy involving all three accused.

The court consequently convicted the wife, her alleged lover and their associate and sentenced all three to rigorous imprisonment for life, along with a fine of ₹25,000 each.

EXPLANATORY TABLE OF LAWS AND SECTIONS

CASE DETAILS

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A husband was betrayed and killed. The husband’s body was later recovered from the Gomti River.
• His wife was convicted along with her alleged lover and an aide. The husband ended up dead.
• The court found a premeditated conspiracy. Violence against men deserves equal outrage.
• All three got rigorous life imprisonment and a ₹25,000 fine each.
• Men can be victims in marriage too. A dead husband should never become a footnote.