Railway Employee Murdered by Wife and Nephew in Lucknow
A thrilling incident has shocked the residents of Lucknow. A railway employee was brutally murdered by his wife and her lover, who is also the nephew of the victim. The crime, which took place in Banthra on May 24, 2025, was carefully planned and executed, and the next day the dead body was found in a dry pond outside their house.
Figure 1: Murder accused Akash and Manju in Police custody
Timeline of the Crime
The dead body found in the pond was that of Siddhi Prasad, a railway employee residing in Driyapur village. On May 24, his wife Manju Devi reported him missing after claiming that he had stepped out at 10:30 PM and did not return that night. The next morning, his body was found in the nearest pond behind their house, with strangulation marks and blunt force injuries.
Conspiracy from the Investigation
Initially, the death appeared to be an accident. However, inconsistencies in Manju’s statements and information from local sources raised suspicion. A combined investigation by Banthra police and the South Zone Surveillance Cell disclosed that Manju, frustrated with her husband’s gambling and alcoholism, collaborated with her husband's 25-year-old nephew, Akash Verma, her suspected lover, to kill her husband. They hired Akash's contact, Sanjay Kashyap, a native of Gonda who works in a local namkeen factory in Lucknow, to assist in the murder for ₹40,000, ₹5,000 of which was paid upfront.
DCP (South) Nipun Agarwal said, “On that night, when the family was away to attend a wedding, Manju alerted the killers. Akash and Sanjay entered the house, strangled Siddhi with a rope, and smashed his head with an iron pipe to confirm his death. They then threw his body in a nearby pond, staging an accident by placing his accessories like slippers, phone, and clothes.”
Confession and Arrests
Based on Akash’s statement, the police recovered the murder weapons—a rope and an iron pipe—for forensic examination. Manju and Akash were arrested, while Sanjay Kashyap remains absconding.
Legal Proceedings
- Section 103(1) of BNS: Punishment for Murder
- Section 238A of BNS: Causing Disappearance of Evidence or Giving False Information to Screen Offender
- Section 353(3) of BNS: Statements Conducive to Public Mischief in Places of Worship
Forensic Significance
- Time and cause of death: Approximate time of death helped investigators cross-check alibis.
- Autopsy report: Post-mortem report revealed strangulation and blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
- Crime scene investigation: Investigators examined the dry pond for trace evidence like footprints, drag marks, and blood stains.
- Recovery and analysis of murder weapons: A rope and an iron pipe were collected for DNA and fingerprint analysis.
- Digital and cell data analysis: Mobile phone records and digital communication were crucial in establishing coordination between Manju Devi, Akash, and Sanjay.
- Forensic Psychology: Highlights the role of behavioral forensics in understanding domestic disharmony and illicit relationships leading to such acts.
Conclusion
This incident has exposed the dark side of domestic disharmony and illicit relationships, culminating in a ghastly act that has left the community in shock. The involvement of close relatives underscores the violation of marital and social bonds. The case highlights the importance of community vigilance and the critical role of forensic and digital evidence in solving modern crimes. As legal proceedings continue, there is hope that justice will be served, bringing closure to the victim’s family.
References
- Wife, nephew arrested for railway employee’s murder in Banthra - Hindustan Times
- Rly staff killed by wife’s lover, aide | Lucknow News - Times of India
