A chilling case reminiscent of the Meghalaya honeymoon murder has come to light from Uttar Pradesh. A 35-year-old woman killed her husband with the help of her lover. The incident occurred in Siddharthnagar district. The woman has been arrested for allegedly murdering her husband and disposing of his body in the Rapti River.

The accused, Sangeeta Devi (35), and her accomplice, Anil Shukla alias Vivek (27), are now in police custody. Both face charges related to the brutal killing of Sangeeta’s husband, Kannan Kumar (48).

18 years of marriage destroyed

Sangeeta and Kannan Kumar were married for 18 years and parents to a 12-year-old son. However the relationship had strained recently, according to family members. Police investigations reveal a calculated plot to eliminate Kannan.

The incident occurred on June 2, while the couple was returning from a visit to the Vibhuti Nath temple in Shravasti. During this Sangeeta allegedly gave her husband poisoned ‘prasad’. As Kannan fell unconscious, Sangeeta and her lover Vivek pushed his body off a 25-foot-high bridge into the Rapti River near Kodari in Balrampur.

Sangeeta files missing person report

Following the murder, Sangeeta attempted to mislead authorities by filing a missing person complaint. She reported that her husband had been missing on June 5 at the Dhebarua police station. She then spent the next three days traveling with Anil.

However, her inconsistent responses during questioning raised suspicions. Surveillance data, which showed Sangeeta’s mobile location with Kannan on June 2, became a crucial piece of evidence. When confronted, she confessed to the crime and revealed Anil’s involvement.

12-year-old son helps in Investigation

Further corroborating the police’s suspicions, the couple’s 12-year-old son reportedly told investigators, “Papa went out with mummy and Anil uncle, but only mummy returned.” Kannan’s brother, Babu Lal, who was aware of the marital discord, had also filed a complaint suspecting foul play and accusing Sangeeta of his brother’s murder.

The skeletal remains of Kannan Kumar were recovered from the Rapti River on June 10, approximately 1.5 km downstream from the bridge, and were identified based on his clothing. Both Sangeeta Devi and Anil Shukla were subsequently arrested based on Babu Lal’s complaint.

Police statement

Police Circle Officer, Shohratgarh, Sujeet Rai, who supervised the case, stated that Sangeeta met Anil five years ago during a train journey. He also informed that their affair deepened over time, with Anil frequently visiting her home. Despite Kannan growing suspicious and confronting his wife, she dismissed his concerns as mere friendship.

“Their affair deepened, and Anil began frequenting her house. Though Kannan grew suspicious and confronted his wife, she dismissed the allegations as mere friendship. However, Sangeeta and Anil eventually planned the murder to remove Kannan from the equation,” said Rai.

Sangeeta confessed to the murder

During the police interrogation, Sangeeta confessed to the murder. She detailed how they poisoned Kannan and then disposed of his body. “We fed him poison during a trip to Vibhuti Nath temple in Shravasti. On the way back, we stopped at Kodari bridge and threw him into the river”, she said. Locals reported that Kannan had brought Sangeeta home after a love marriage 18 years ago and earned his livelihood through fish farming.

Rai confirmed that the murder was premeditated and that Sangeeta attempted to mislead the investigation but eventually broke down under sustained questioning. Both accused have been sent to jail, informed the police.