Bokaro: A woman and her alleged former lover were arrested on Sunday for the murder of her 17-year-old husband in Bokaro district, police said.The body of Basudev Kumar was found in Kumhardih forest near Tupkadih under Jaridih police station limits on July 28. Police identified the accused as Rakhi Ravani, 40, Basudev’s wife, and Munna Gupta alias Durgesh Gupta, 43.Inspector Shailendra Kumar Singh said technical surveillance and interrogation led police to the accused.Police said that Basudev, a resident of Gandhajor under Chira Chas police station area, was aged 17 years and four months old as per his Aadhaar records. He married Rakhi in June despite opposition from his family. The couple subsequently moved into a rented house in Tupkadih.Police said Rakhi had remained in contact with Gupta, with whom she was previously in a relationship. Investigators alleged that the two conspired to kill Basudev.On July 26, Gupta allegedly took Basudev in a car to Kumhardih forest, where he was forced to consume a suspected poisonous substance and then strangled with a sari. His body was recovered two days later.Police seized the car allegedly used in the crime, mobile phones, a piece of sari, the victim’s slippers and shirt, and a bottle containing suspected pesticide.Both accused have been taken into custody and further investigation is under way, police said.
