Two affairs, jewellery theft and a murder – this was how police in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi cracked a case over the murder of a 54-year-old woman and arrested the victim’s daughter-in-law and her sister, in connection with the incident. Pooja and her sister Kamla, accused of killing Sushila Devi, were in judicial custody, while the police shot and arrested Kamla’s lover, Anil Verma, who was on the run following the murder.
Police said the trio had plotted the murder of Sushila Devi and stole jewellery worth Rs 8 lakh from the victim’s house in Jhansi, Superintendent of Police (City) Gyanendra Kumar said.
Anil Verma was on his way to sell the stolen jewellery to a relative when he encountered the police. When he stopped his bike, Verma opened fire on the police, prompting them to fire shots at him, thereby injuring him, and subsequently, arresting him, the SP said.
HOW DID THE MURDER CAME TO LIGHT?
The murder came to light when Sushila Devi, the matriarch of the household, was found dead at her house in Kumhariya village on June 24. Police said Pooja wanted to sell off her eight-bigha share and move to Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior. The family collectively owned 16 bighas of land.
While Pooja’s brother-in-law Santosh, who was already married and with whom he had an affair, and father-in-law Ajay, agreed to Pooja’s decision, Sushila Devi opposed. Police said Pooja allegedly murdered Sushila Devi to remove the final obstacle of her plan to sell off the land, SP Kumar said.
Police also said that Pooja, after her husband’s death, was involved in a live-in relationship with Sushila Devi’s younger son Kalyan Singh in Jhansi. When Kalyan Singh died six years ago, Pooja was taken to Kumhariya village by Santosh, who is also another son of Sushila Devi, and Ajay.
Following that, Pooja began an affair with Santosh and she had a daughter with him. Santosh’s wife Ragini objected to their affair and left for her maternal house nine months ago, according to SP Kumar.
The police official said Pooja, during questioning, said she plotted the murder of Sushila Devi along with her sister Pooja and her lover Anil Verma, who was on the run, before being arrested.
Police recovered the stolen jewellery, pistol and the bike used by Anil Verma, following the police encounter.
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