In a shocking case of betrayal and murder, a newlywed woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district plotted her husband’s killing just 14 days after marriage, echoing the recent Meerut case, where Muskan and her lover Sahil conspired to murder her merchant navy husband Saurabh.
The 22-year-old accused, Pragati Yadav, and her longtime lover, Anurag Yadav, had been in a relationship for four years. However, their families disapproved and forced Pragati to marry Dilip on March 5. Unable to stay apart, the couple decided to eliminate Dilip and hired a contract killer, Ramaji Chaudhary, for Rs 2 lakh to carry out the murder.
On March 19, Dilip was found severely injured with bullet wounds in a field. He was rushed to multiple hospitals in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but succumbed to his injuries on March 21.
Police investigations revealed that Ramaji and his associates lured Dilip to a secluded area, brutally beat him, and shot him before fleeing. CCTV footage led to the arrest of Pragati, Anurag, and Ramaji, with police recovering two pistols, four live cartridges, a bike, mobile phones, and cash. A manhunt is underway for the remaining accused.
This cold-blooded crime, just like the Meerut case, exposes a rising trend of contract killings fueled by illicit relationships, where love turns deadly.
During police interrogation, Pragati revealed that after her family discovered her love affair, they arranged her marriage with her elder sister’s brother-in-law, Dilip. Unhappy with this forced alliance, she conspired with her lover to eliminate her husband. To execute the plan while keeping herself out of suspicion, she hired contract killers for Rs 2 lakh. She admitted to paying them Rs 1 lakh in advance, using money she received as gifts during her wedding rituals.
Since the incident, tears have not stopped flowing from the eyes of Pragati’s maternal family. They expressed deep regret, stating that if they had even the slightest hint of her intentions, they would never have agreed to her marriage with Dilip. They demand that Dilip’s killers face the strictest punishment, including the death penalty.
Pragati’s brother, Alok, refuted claims that she was forced into the marriage, calling such allegations baseless. He condemned her actions, stating that she is now considered dead to the family.
“The marriage happened with mutual consent. If we had any suspicion, we would never have allowed it,” Alok said. He urged the judiciary to ensure the harshest punishment for all those involved in Dilip’s murder, including his sister Pragati. He also stated that he would personally submit a written complaint to the authorities demanding justice.
