LUCKNOW: A 28-year-old man was allegedly strangled with an electrical wire and beaten to death by a married couple and two of the woman’s family members over a relationship dispute, after which his body was stuffed into a plastic sack, transported in a Bolero vehicle and dumped near a canal in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district to conceal his identity, police said.The victim, Akash Gupta, a resident of Gandhariya Buzurg village in Basti district who worked in Mumbai, was allegedly called to the house of his paramour, Poonam Devi, in Shravasti district on the evening of October 10.Her husband, Rajkumar Gupta, allegedly conspired with Poonam, her father Phoolchand and brother Anuj to kill Akash following a confrontation over the relationship, according to investigators.Police have arrested Rajkumar, 28, and Poonam, 25, while raids are underway to apprehend the other two accused, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari said.The case came to light on October 11, when police recovered the body of an unidentified man stuffed inside a plastic sack near the Piprahwa canal bridge in the Matera police station area of Bahraich.The investigation subsequently established the victim’s identity and led police to the couple’s home in the Malhipur police station area of neighbouring Shravasti district.According to police, the body was recovered from the banks of the Piprahwa canal on October 11. With the deceased’s identity unknown, police circulated pamphlets carrying his photograph to seek information from the public.The victim’s brother, Vikas Kasaudhan, identified the deceased as Akash Gupta after seeing his photograph. Family members reportedly told investigators that they had last spoken to Akash on the night of October 9.Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother, a case was registered at Matera police station on October 13, initially naming Rajkumar Gupta and Poonam Devi as accused.Investigators subsequently analysed electronic evidence, call detail records (CDRs) and CCTV footage and questioned the suspects. These investigative leads, coupled with the questioning of the arrested couple, helped police reconstruct the alleged sequence of events leading to the murder and the disposal of the body.Police said Akash, who was employed in Mumbai, was in a relationship with Poonam, a married woman living with her husband in Shravasti district.Rajkumar was allegedly aware of the relationship and had previously objected to it. According to the police investigation, a complaint concerning the relationship had been lodged around a year and a half ago at Malhipur police station and through the Uttar Pradesh Police women’s helpline, 1090.Despite the earlier complaint and warnings, Akash allegedly continued to pressurise Poonam to meet him, police said, citing the account given by Rajkumar and findings emerging during the investigation.Investigators believe the continuing dispute over the relationship was the motive behind the murder. Police have alleged that the couple decided to call Akash to their residence before the confrontation that culminated in his death.According to the police reconstruction, Rajkumar, with the help of his wife, allegedly arranged for Akash to visit their house in Shikari Chaura village under the Malhipur police station limits of Shravasti district.The meeting was reportedly arranged for around 7.30 pm on October 10, with Poonam allegedly contacting Akash and asking him to come to the house.Police said a verbal altercation broke out after Akash arrived. During the confrontation, Rajkumar, Poonam, Phoolchand and Anuj allegedly attacked him.The four accused allegedly strangled Akash using an electrical wire and assaulted him with sticks, resulting in his death, according to investigators.The involvement of Phoolchand and Anuj emerged during the investigation, police said. Both remain absconding.After the alleged murder, the accused reportedly placed Akash’s body inside a plastic sack and loaded it into a Bolero vehicle.Police said the body was then transported from Shravasti to Bahraich and dumped near the Piprahwa canal bridge in the Matera police station area. Investigators suspect the body was disposed of at the location to conceal the crime and delay identification of the victim.The sack containing the body was discovered the following day, October 11, setting off the investigation that ultimately led police to the accused.The movement of the accused and the vehicle, along with the call records and other electronic evidence, formed part of the investigation, police said.Matera police arrested Rajkumar Gupta and Poonam Devi from Chhanga crossing on October 15.The two accused are residents of Shikari Chaura village under Malhipur police station in Shravasti district. Police said both were taken into custody after investigators examined the electronic evidence, CCTV footage and call detail records and questioned them in connection with the case.Based on disclosures made by the arrested couple, police recovered an electrical wire allegedly used in the crime, two sticks and the Bolero vehicle reportedly used to transport the body.The vehicle was identified as a Bolero bearing registration number UP46E2773.Police said the necessary legal formalities were completed and the arrested accused were being sent for production before the court.Investigators have also named Phoolchand Gupta, son of Ramjiavan, and Anuj Kumar Gupta, son of Phoolchand Gupta, as accused in the case.According to police, both allegedly participated in the assault that led to Akash’s death and the subsequent disposal of his body. Police teams have been constituted and dispatched to trace and arrest them.The investigation is continuing to establish the precise role of each accused and gather further evidence relating to the alleged murder and transportation of the body.The operation was carried out under the direction of Bahraich superintendent of police Vishwajeet Srivastava, with supervision by additional superintendent of police (Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari and Nanpara Circle Officer Chitranshu Gautam.The arrest operation was led by Matera station house officer Prempal Singh. The police team included Sub-Inspector Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Head Constables Rajendra Modanwal and Ramjeet Yadav, Constables Sachin Singh, Sangam Yadav and Satyam Singh, and Woman Constable Muskan Maurya.Police said further action would follow as the investigation progresses and the two absconding accused are traced.The case, which initially surfaced as the recovery of an unidentified body in a sack near a canal, has now developed into a murder investigation centred on a relationship dispute, with police alleging that the victim was deliberately lured to the accused couple’s home before being killed and his body dumped in a neighbouring district.
