A marriage that followed a nine-year-long relationship ended in tragedy in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, after a 33-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his wife and her family, who then attempted to pass the crime off as suicide, police said.
Death first believed to be suicide
Jitendra Kumar Yadav was found hanging inside a rented house in the Izzatnagar area on January 26. Neighbours were initially told that he had died by suicide, and police treated the case as such.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed strangulation as the cause of death, ruling out suicide and prompting a deeper investigation.
Police allege staged hanging
According to police, Jitendra’s wife Jyoti allegedly strangled him during a heated argument, while her parents and brother restrained him. After he died, the accused reportedly tied a muffler around his neck and hung the body from a window grill to make the death appear as suicide.
Three accused — Jyoti, her father Kalicharan, and mother Chameli — have been arrested. Police are searching for her brother Deepak, who is also named in the case.
Dispute over money led to violence
Police said Jyoti and Jitendra, who married on November 25 after knowing each other since their student days, began arguing frequently over financial issues. Investigators allege Jitendra withdrew ₹20,000 from Jyoti’s account and lost it in online gambling, triggering repeated conflicts.
On the day of the incident, the argument escalated, after which Jyoti allegedly called her family to the couple’s rented home in Girja Shankar Colony.
Charges changed after post-mortem
Following a complaint by Jitendra’s brother, police initially registered a case of abetment to suicide. After the post-mortem confirmed strangulation, charges were revised to murder.
Jitendra worked as a contract employee at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, while Jyoti was employed as a contract bus conductor with the Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation.
Police said further investigation is underway.