A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) was murdered by her husband on Sunday; the police solved the murder case within 24 hours. Her husband accpeted to have committed crime.
Police officers said that they got clue about the involvement of husband, as they found the bedsheet and pillow used in murde4r were washed in washing machine inside the house.
On Sunday, Madhya Pradesh's Shahpura in Dindori district was gripped by the sudden death of sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Nisha Sharma.
However, the case turned out to be a murder plotted by the SDM's husband, Manish Sharma, who was arrested by police on Monday.
On Sunday, Manish brought his wife Nisha to a hospital in Shahpura, saying she was bleeding from her nose and mouth. However, Nisha had already died by then.
Since it was a high-profile case involving a government officer, the police formed a team and started investigating it from multiple angles.
During interrogation, Manish said Nisha was not well for the past few days, and she died in the hospital during treatment. However, the doctor who conducted the SDM's post-mortem said Nisha had died about four-five hours ago.
During a search of the house, the police and the forensic team found a bedsheet, pillow and Nisha's clothes in a washing machine. This aroused the suspicion of the police that something was amiss.
The police then again called Manish for interrogation and questioned him strictly about the materials found in the washing machine. Manish eventually confessed to murdering his wife by smothering her using a pillow.
To remove evidence, Manish then washed her blood-stained clothes, the pillow and the bedsheet in the washing machine. He also dried them and left it there. Manish also sat near the corpse of his wife for six hours before taking her to the nearby hospital, police said.
Manish was arrested and charged under IPC Sections 302, 304 B and 201.
Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Akhil Patel said Nisha (51) and Manish Sharma (45), a property dealer, got married in September 2020 after coming in contact through a marriage portal.
However, there were frequent arguments between the duo as Nisha did not make Manish the nominee in her service, insurance and bank records. Despite repeated demands by Manish, Nisha did not oblige.
"Based on our probe and leads gathered from the spot, we questioned Manish Sharma and then arrested him. He has been charged with murder, dowry-related death, destroying evidence and other offences," SP Akhil Patel said.
Hailing the investigating team for solving the murder mystery in 24 hours, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mukesh Shrivastava announced a reward of Rs 20,000, police officials said.
