Sitapur murder solved; copspin it on victim's same-sex ties

Lucknow: Sitapur police solved the murder of a 35-year-old man, whose body was found in an SUV on July 3, 2025, with the arrest of four individuals, including a married couple. The accused were sent to jail on Friday.

Those arrested were all residents of Balda village in Sitapur. Police said the victim was in a same-sex relationship with one of the accused whose wife had come to know about it. She threatened her husband to end his relationship with the victim or she would seek a divorce. The accused couple then called the victim to their house for a discussion where their other two associates joined in attacking the victim with a club and a sharp-edged weapon. Later, they dumped his body in his SUV and abandoned the vehicle near the district hospital. Police managed to zero in on the accused after scanning the call details of the victim and the locations he visited before he was murdered. CCTV footage and WhatsApp conversations provided crucial leads. "The turning point came when investigators accessed an explicit and objectionable WhatsApp chat between the victim and his same-sex partner. The two were allegedly engaged in a personal dispute, potentially of a romantic or sexual nature, which appears to have triggered the confrontation," said an officer in Sitapur police.

Police say the victim went to the accused's house following the chat on July 3. There, a heated argument broke out between the two and when the accused saw no way to save his marriage, he began to attack him violently wherein he was joined by others. Forensic examination revealed multiple injuries on his body, including marks from a trident, bruises on the waist consistent with lathi blows, a head injury, and even a human bite mark on his hand. His clothes were dishevelled, and he was wearing only a half pants when discovered. Police recovered a trident, a stick, his mobile phone, and half pant from the possession of the accused.

The victim, who stayed with his mother, owned a grocery store and used his Bolero for occasional bookings. He left home on Wednesday after breakfast to open his shop and last contacted his family around 8 pm, promising to return soon. When he didn't come back and his phone was found switched off, the family grew worried. The next morning, his body was discovered.

Local villagers described him as sociable and well-liked.

Lucknow: Sitapur police solved the murder of a 35-year-old man, whose body was found in an SUV on July 3, 2025, with the arrest of four individuals, including a married couple. The accused were sent to jail on Friday.

Those arrested were all residents of Balda village in Sitapur. Police said the victim was in a same-sex relationship with one of the accused whose wife had come to know about it. She threatened her husband to end his relationship with the victim or she would seek a divorce. The accused couple then called the victim to their house for a discussion where their other two associates joined in attacking the victim with a club and a sharp-edged weapon. Later, they dumped his body in his SUV and abandoned the vehicle near the district hospital. Police managed to zero in on the accused after scanning the call details of the victim and the locations he visited before he was murdered. CCTV footage and WhatsApp conversations provided crucial leads. "The turning point came when investigators accessed an explicit and objectionable WhatsApp chat between the victim and his same-sex partner. The two were allegedly engaged in a personal dispute, potentially of a romantic or sexual nature, which appears to have triggered the confrontation," said an officer in Sitapur police.

Police say the victim went to the accused's house following the chat on July 3. There, a heated argument broke out between the two and when the accused saw no way to save his marriage, he began to attack him violently wherein he was joined by others. Forensic examination revealed multiple injuries on his body, including marks from a trident, bruises on the waist consistent with lathi blows, a head injury, and even a human bite mark on his hand. His clothes were dishevelled, and he was wearing only a half pants when discovered. Police recovered a trident, a stick, his mobile phone, and half pant from the possession of the accused.

The victim, who stayed with his mother, owned a grocery store and used his Bolero for occasional bookings. He left home on Wednesday after breakfast to open his shop and last contacted his family around 8 pm, promising to return soon. When he didn't come back and his phone was found switched off, the family grew worried. The next morning, his body was discovered.

Local villagers described him as sociable and well-liked.