Rourkela: A 25-year-old woman and her alleged lover were arrested for allegedly murdering her husband in Angul district after he opposed their relationship, police said on Saturday. The accused, Saudamini Sethi and Khageswar Sahu, were arrested by Bagedia police on Friday night and remanded to judicial custody on Saturday. Police said Dilip Sethi (35) of Kanaloi village under Bagedia police station limits lived with his wife, nine-year-old daughter and other family members. Khageswar of Badasahi village was a frequent visitor to Dilip’s house.Police sources said Saudamini and Khageswar developed a relationship about six months ago. When Dilip learnt about the affair, he opposed it. Police said the duo then conspired to eliminate him. On the night of Oct 20, Khageswar reportedly visited Dilip’s house and consumed liquor with him. Saudamini allegedly mixed rat poison in chicken and served it to Dilip. However, the attempt failed as he consumed only a small quantity, police said.Investigators said several family members had gone to watch an opera performance in the village that night. Saudamini initially accompanied them but returned home later. Finding Dilip asleep, she allegedly called Khageswar, who returned to the house. Police alleged that Khageswar struck Dilip on the head with the handle of an axe and that the two then strangled him with a piece of cloth.When family members returned in the early hours of Oct 21, they found Dilip dead. Police said Saudamini allegedly tried to mislead them by claiming an unidentified person had murdered her husband while she was away at the opera.Following a complaint lodged by Dilip’s mother, Sauri Sethi, police registered a murder case and launched an investigation. The scientific team visited the spot and seized an axe, bloodstained clothes and a cloth allegedly used in the crime.During the probe, police traced Khageswar’s presence in the house on the night of the murder and uncovered the alleged motive. Both accused were detained and interrogated on Friday, during which they allegedly confessed to the crime.“The woman and her lover have been arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly killing her husband,” said Debabrata Nayak, IIC of Bagedia police station.
