Rajasthan’s ‘honeymoon murder’: Woman gets husband killed, tries to pass it off as hit-and-run case

Ashish and Anju, who had married just three months ago, were out for an evening walk on January 30 when Ashish was allegedly attacked and killed.

Police say Anju staged the murder to look like a road accident and robbery.

According to Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan, police received information around 9 pm that a couple was lying unconscious on a road. The two were taken to a Community Health Centre, where doctors declared Ashish dead, media reports said.

Anju, 23, initially told police that an unidentified vehicle had hit them and that her gold jewellery was stolen during the incident.

However, investigators grew suspicious after forensic and medical findings revealed injury marks and signs of strangulation on Ashish’s body, while Anju appeared largely unhurt.

Phone records further revealed that Anju was in constant contact with her ex-boyfriend, Sanju, who lived near her home.

Police said Anju was unhappy with her marriage and had returned to her hometown soon after the wedding, where she reconnected with Sanju.

The two allegedly planned Ashish’s murder along with Sanju’s accomplices — Rocky, also known as Rohit, and Badal, alias Siddharth.

On the night of the crime, Anju allegedly took Ashish to an isolated road where the attackers were hiding.

Ashish was brutally assaulted and strangled, after which Anju handed over her phone and earrings to the accused to make it appear like a robbery and pretended to be unconscious.

Investigators said Anju repeatedly changed her statements, raising further suspicion and ultimately leading to the case being cracked.

All four accused, including Anju, have been arrested.

Police said the case bears similarities to the Meghalaya honeymoon murder in which a woman plotted her husband’s killing during their honeymoon and attempted to pass it off as an accident.