Police in Rajasthan have arrested a man in connection with the alleged murder of his wife in Behror, claiming he attempted to stage the incident as a suicide after the killing. According to police, the couple had been involved in a prolonged dispute allegedly linked to the husband's suspicion about his wife's character.
Police in the Kotputli-Behror district said the accused was arrested following an investigation into the death of his wife. Investigators alleged that the woman was killed during a domestic dispute and that an attempt was later made to present the incident as a case of suicide.
The accused was produced before a court, which remanded him to three days of police custody. Police said the investigation is continuing into all aspects of the case.
According to police, Dharmendra Soni, a resident of Madhuban in Uttar Pradesh's Mau district, was living with his wife, Deepika Verma, in the Teachers' Colony area of Behror. Dharmendra is employed as a senior engineer at a glass company in the local industrial area.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the couple had been facing domestic disputes for some time. Police said the accused suspected his wife's character, resulting in frequent arguments between them.
Investigating officers said the couple had another argument on the night of July 26. Police alleged that the accused assaulted his wife while under the influence of alcohol. During the incident, the woman reportedly contacted her father by phone and informed him about the dispute.
According to police, family members spoke to the accused in an attempt to calm the situation, after which both phones were switched off. Police further stated that the dispute escalated again the following morning and allegedly turned violent.
Police claimed that the accused first assaulted the woman severely. Investigators alleged that her head struck a wall, causing serious injuries, after which she was allegedly strangled to death.
Police also alleged that the accused attempted to portray the death as a suicide. During the investigation, officers said they found indications that an attempt had been made to hang the body from a ceiling fan, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
According to police officials, the post-mortem report recorded injury marks on the woman's body. Police said the report indicated a serious head injury and signs consistent with strangulation, strengthening suspicion of murder.
However, police stated that the final conclusion will be based on a detailed forensic examination and other scientific evidence. Investigators have collected evidence related to the case and continued the investigation.
Police said officers reached the residence after receiving information about the incident and found the accused present at the house. Following preliminary questioning, he was taken into custody and later formally arrested on charges of murder.
Investigating agencies are also analysing evidence recovered from the scene, electronic records and other technical evidence.
The deceased woman's family alleged that the accused had suspected his wife's character since their marriage, leading to repeated disputes. Family members also claimed that tensions had arisen on several occasions before the incident.
Police said statements from the family have been recorded in the case diary and form an important part of the investigation.
According to police, Dharmendra and Deepika were married in 2019 and had no children. After their marriage, they lived in Behror, where the accused worked for a private company.
Police are also investigating whether any previous complaints or records of domestic disputes involving the couple exist.
During the three-day police remand, investigators will question the accused about the sequence of events, the alleged method of the killing, activities following the incident and the available physical evidence. Police are also examining forensic reports, mobile phone records and other technical evidence to establish the full sequence of events.
Police said the investigation is continuing impartially and that further legal action will be based on the evidence collected. The question of guilt or innocence will ultimately be decided through the judicial process.
