LUCKNOW: What began as a missing person’s complaint ended in the exposure of an alleged cold-blooded murder plot after police arrested an Ola cab driver who had attempted to portray himself as a desperate husband searching for his missing wife while allegedly trying to erase every trace of the crime.The accused, Umendra Pratap Singh (31), a cab driver from Rahimabad, walked into the local police station on July 31, claiming that his wife, Anjali Singh, had mysteriously disappeared during the intervening night of July 30 and 31, allegedly leaving home with her jewellery.Even as police began searching for the missing woman, a body was recovered from the Gomti River in Itaunja. The victim was later identified by her family as Anjali, transforming a missing person inquiry into a murder investigation.The breakthrough came after Anjali’s brother accused Umendra of orchestrating her murder. Police registered a case and began reconstructing the couple’s final hours using technical surveillance, mobile phone location data and electronic evidence.“What initially appeared to be a missing case quickly unravelled after technical evidence contradicted the husband’s version,” said Rahimabad SHO Anil Kumar Trigunayak.Investigators said Umendra had carefully scripted an alibi, presenting himself as a worried husband while allegedly concealing a meticulously planned crime.The digital trail eventually led police to Umendra, who was arrested near Adaura Mod on the night of August 1.During interrogation, police said, Umendra confessed that he had conspired with his alleged lover, Aarti Verma (31), a call centre employee, to eliminate Anjali after she discovered their relationship and repeatedly objected to it.According to investigators, the couple allegedly smothered Anjali by pressing her mouth and neck during the night of July 30.Police said the accused then loaded her body into a Swift Dzire, drove to Itaunja and dumped it into the Gomti River in an attempt to destroy evidence and delay identification.But the alleged conspiracy did not end there.Investigators said Umendra returned home, collected Anjali’s jewellery and handed it over to Aarti before approaching Rahimabad police station to file a missing complaint. By claiming that his wife had disappeared along with her valuables, he allegedly sought to create the impression that she had voluntarily eloped.“The missing complaint was itself part of the conspiracy. It was intended to divert the investigation and make it appear that the victim had left home on her own after taking jewellery,” a police officer associated with the probe said.The deception, however, collapsed under the weight of electronic evidence.Police pieced together the movements of both accused through mobile phone locations and other technical inputs before arresting Aarti. During searches, investigators recovered 32 gold and silver ornaments belonging to Anjali, two Android mobile phones, and the Swift Dzire allegedly used to transport the victim’s body.The recovered jewellery is estimated to be worth Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, police said.Both Umendra and Aarti have been remanded to judicial custody. Investigators are continuing to gather forensic and digital evidence while also verifying Umendra’s criminal background. Police said records show he was previously booked in an assault case in Hardoi in 2020.
