Rajasthan 'honeymoon' murder: 'Perfect match', 7-year affair and a waiter lover - chilling details emerge

• Rajasthan woman allegedly kills husband with lover and friends after 3 months.
• Police probe revealed Ashish was strangled, not killed in a road accident
• Both families demand strict punishment for Anju, express shock over incident

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Shock and gloom have enveloped two closely linked families in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district after a 23-year-old woman allegedly killed her husband with the help of her lover and his friends, barely three months after marriage, exposing what investigators are now calling the state’s own ‘honeymoon murder’.

The accused, Anju, is alleged to have murdered her husband Ashish to be with her boyfriend, Sanju. Anju, a resident of Sadulshahar, married Ashish, 27, from 1-KLM village near the Pakistan border, in October last year. On paper, the match appeared ideal. Ashish had completed an MSc in Geology and was pursuing a BEd degree, while Anju was studying for an MCom.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Anju was in a relationship with Sanju for nearly seven years, and her family members were aware of this relationship. Despite marrying Ashish three months ago, Anju allegedly attempted to meet Sanju under the pretext of pursuing her studies.

Anju made up an excuse to complete a BA degree from Sri Ganganagar and talked to Ashish’s parents about it. However, Ashish flatly turned down his wife’s request. She discussed the matter with Sanju and they both hatched a plot to murder Ashish when Anju visited her hometown 16 days ago.

However, for both the families, the marriage seemed very secure considering the deep family connection between the two sides. Ashish had been adopted as a child by his uncle and aunt, who had no son. His adoptive mother arranged his marriage with Anju, who was her niece. In fact, the two families had already seen two other marriages between their members over the years.

The walk that turned fatal

On the evening of January 30, Ashish and Anju went out for their usual evening walk along with Ashish’s cousin Ankit and his wife. Ankit later recalled that they normally avoided deserted routes.

“We usually don’t take that road. Ashish dropped me and my wife home first, and then, at Anju’s insistence, they went towards the isolated stretch,” Ankit said.

Hours later, the family was informed that Ashish and Anju had been found unconscious on the roadside, in what was initially believed to be a hit-and-run accident.

From accident claim to murder probe

Ashish was declared dead at the local community health centre. Anju, meanwhile, claimed she had been injured and said her gold jewellery had been stolen. She allegedly drifted in and out of consciousness.

However, police soon noticed inconsistencies in her statements. The injuries on Ashish’s body did not match a road accident. A detailed investigation revealed that Ashish had been strangled and killed.

Police say Anju had secretly reconnected with her boyfriend Sanju, who works as a waiter at wedding functions. Sanju and two of his friends allegedly hid in bushes along the road and attacked Ashish when the couple arrived.

After the killing, Anju allegedly handed over her earrings to Sanju, lay down on the road and pretended to be unconscious to support the accident story.

Families demand the harshest punishment

Ashish’s family remains in shock and grief. His father, Ramrakh, said Anju had behaved normally and showed no signs of hatred.

“She mixed well with the family. After the murder, she pretended to be unconscious and did not speak to us,” he was quoted by NDTV as saying. He also demanded the death penalty for Anju.

His mother was too inconsolable to speak, while villagers expressed anger over the betrayal, recalling the grand wedding celebrations held just months ago.

Shame and anger in Anjali’s hometown

In Sadulshahar’s Chhajgariya Mohalla, where Anju’s family has lived for decades, the mood is one of shame and disbelief. Anju lost her father 13 years ago and lived with her mother, brothers and sisters-in-law.

Neighbours claimed Anju had met Sanju in Sri Ganganagar city and suggested her family may have arranged her marriage to Ashish to end the relationship. However, Anju’s uncle strongly denied this.

“We had no idea. We are deeply ashamed. If we had known, we would never have allowed this marriage,” he said. He added that the family also wants the strictest punishment.