What initially appeared to be a robbery gone wrong in Madhya Pradesh has turned into a suspected contract killing, with police arresting a woman and her lover for allegedly plotting the murder of her `dark skinned` husband, officials said.
According to the reports, the victim, Purohit Devkrishna (28), was found dead at his home in Bhopal on April 7. His wife, Priyanka Purohit, initially told police that unidentified burglars had broken into the house, tied her up, and stolen valuables worth around Rs 3.5 lakh.
She further reportedly claimed that her husband was killed while trying to confront the intruders.
Frequently made disparaging remarks about complexion
As per a news report, Purohit`s relative alleged that Priyanka frequently made disparaging remarks about his complexion. She claimed that Priyanka would often belittle her husband, saying she deserved a more attractive partner than the dark-skinned Devkrishna.
Wife and lover held for orchestrating the killing
Devkrishna’s wife, Priyanka Purohit, initially told police that unidentified burglars had entered the house, tied her up, and stolen valuables worth around Rs 3.5 lakh. She claimed her husband was killed while trying to confront the intruders.
However, investigators later found inconsistencies in her statements.
As the investigation progressed, police grew suspicious of Priyanka’s account. Her phone records reportedly showed frequent communication with a man identified as Kamlesh Purohit, a 32-year-old resident of Rajgarh, according to the PTI.
The police officials stated the connection played a key role in uncovering the alleged conspiracy.
Contract killing angle emerges
Police said Priyanka and Kamlesh allegedly conspired to kill Devkrishna and hired a contract killer named Surendra for Rs 1 lakh to carry out the murder, reported the PTI.
The victim was attacked with a sharp weapon, resulting in multiple injuries that led to his death.
Arrests made, shooter absconding
Both Priyanka and Kamlesh have been arrested following the investigation. However, the alleged contract killer is still on the run, and efforts are underway to trace him.
Police said the case was solved within 36 hours of the murder after sustained interrogation and analysis of evidence.
Background of strained relationship
Investigators also revealed that Priyanka was married to Devkrishna when she was around 15 years old. After reaching adulthood, she moved into her matrimonial home, but the relationship reportedly remained strained, leading to frequent disputes.
The officials said that further investigation is continuing to establish the full chain of events and identify all those involved.
(with PTI inputs)