A newlywed marriage in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, ended in tragedy just two months after the wedding when 33-year-old Jitendra Kumar Yadav was found dead in the couple’s rented home in the Izzatnagar area. Initially believed to be a suicide, a post-mortem later revealed that the cause of death was strangulation, prompting a murder investigation.

According to police, Jitendra’s wife, Jyoti, allegedly strangled him while her father, mother, and brother held him down. Afterward, the family reportedly tried to stage the scene as a suicide, suspending the body from a window grill with a muffler. Police have arrested three of the accused and are searching for the brother-in-law, Deepak.

The couple had tied the knot on November 25 last year after a nine-year relationship that began during their student days. The wedding, conducted according to Hindu customs, was carried out with the consent of both families.

Police said the relationship began to deteriorate within weeks of the marriage, largely over financial disputes. Jitendra reportedly withdrew Rs 20,000 from Jyoti’s bank account, which he lost in online gambling. Repeated arguments over money intensified the tension between them.

Wife Kills Husband, Family Restrains

On January 26, the argument escalated when Jyoti confronted Jitendra about the missing funds. Police allege that she then called her parents and brother to the rented home in Girja Shankar Colony. “During the ensuing confrontation, police claim, the parents and brother restrained Jitendra, holding his arms and legs, while Jyoti strangled him,” officials said.

After his death, the family allegedly attempted to hide the crime. “His body was tied with a muffler and hung from a window or ventilator grill to make it appear that he had died by suicide,” a police officer said. Neighbours were alerted with claims that Jitendra had taken his own life.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Jitendra’s death was initially treated as a suspected suicide. However, following a complaint by his brother Ajay Kumar, the police ordered a post-mortem, which confirmed strangulation as the cause of death. The investigation was subsequently upgraded to murder.

During interrogation, Jyoti reportedly confessed to the killing. She stated that frequent disputes over finances had strained the marriage. On the day of the incident, she claimed the argument spiralled out of control, prompting her to call her parents and brother. Police allege that the family then restrained Jitendra, allowing Jyoti to strangle him “in a fit of rage,” before attempting to stage the scene as a suicide.

Couple’s Background

Jitendra worked as a contract worker at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), a premier government research body in Bareilly, while Jyoti was employed as a contract bus conductor with the Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation.

Police are actively searching for Deepak, Jyoti’s brother, who is still at large, as the investigation continues.