Patna police made a significant breakthrough in a shocking murder case on Wednesday. Officers arrested a man and his accomplice for allegedly killing his wife last Sunday night. The crime occurred in the Gazachak Mohammadpur area under the Janipur police station jurisdiction.
Victim Identified as Mala Devi
The deceased woman was identified as Mala Devi. She was forty years old. Mala was the wife of Subodh Sharma, a resident of Jehanabad. Subodh operates a small hotel in Babhanpura, Phulwarisharif.
Discovery of the Body
Mala Devi arrived in Patna from her parental home in Jehanabad on Sunday. She came to visit her in-laws. However, her body was discovered in an agricultural field later that night. The body bore clear gunshot injuries.
Police received information about the incident and rushed to the spot immediately. Based on strong circumstantial evidence gathered at the scene, authorities moved quickly. They arrested both accused individuals—Subodh Sharma, the husband, and his accomplice, Kunal Kishor. Kunal is a resident of Narayanpur Murari in Jehanabad.
Police Reveal Motive Behind the Murder
City SP (West) Bhanu Pratap Singh addressed the media about the case. He stated that preliminary investigations pointed to a clear motive. The murder stemmed from a combination of financial disputes and personal suspicions.
Subodh believed his wife withheld a significant portion of money from a land sale. The land was sold for approximately twenty-six lakh rupees. He claimed she did not give him the proceeds. Additionally, Subodh suspected his wife of having extramarital relationships with multiple men.
Planning and Execution of the Crime
To carry out the crime, Subodh sought help from Kunal Kishor. Subodh had previously paid Kunal two and a half lakh rupees. The accused assured Kunal that if he assisted in the murder, he would not have to return that money.
Kunal had prior personal relations with Mala Devi. He also worked as staff at Subodh's hotel. This familiarity played a key role. Kunal lured Mala to an isolated spot on the pretext of showing her a plot of land. Since they knew each other well, she did not suspect any foul play. Mala accompanied him without any resistance.
Upon arrival at the location, Subodh was lying in wait. He shot her dead. The weapon used in the crime has not been recovered yet. Police have formed a separate team to probe this aspect of the case further.
Electronic Evidence Seized
Investigators seized key electronic evidence. This included the cellphones and SIM cards used by the accused before and after the crime. Call records and tower location data provided crucial confirmation. They traced the movements and communications between the accused and the victim.
Both accused were produced in court following their arrest. The court remanded them to judicial custody. The investigation continues as police work to gather more evidence and build a strong case.
