Ghaziabad hotel horror: Man beats woman to death, spends night with her body

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• Man arrested for murdering female friend in Ghaziabad hotel after argument
• Victim died from internal injuries; accused confessed post-mortem findings.
• FIR registered; accused spent night beside body before alerting hotel staff

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A 40-year-old man has been arrested for the alleged murder of a female friend in a Ghaziabad hotel room, where he then spent the night beside her body before reporting her dead the following morning, police revealed on Monday.

The grisly incident unfolded at a hotel on Patel Marg, where the accused, Praveen Kumar and the victim, Arti Kumar, 35, had checked in on Saturday evening. According to police officials familiar with the case, the pair, who had known each other for approximately three years, consumed alcohol together before a violent argument erupted late into the night.

The assistant commissioner of police for Nandgram circle, Upasana Pandey, reportedly stated that the assault occurred in a fit of rage, with the accused repeatedly punching and kicking the woman until she succumbed to her injuries in the room.

What followed, investigators said, was a chilling act of composure. After Arti collapsed, Kumar did not raise an alarm or seek help and remained in the room overnight. An investigating officer, who asked not to be named, was cited by HT as saying that Kumar claimed he feared arousing suspicion if he left alone at night and stated that he had stayed in the room and slept next to the body.

Kumar’s account to police, described as a confession, alleged that the confrontation began around midnight when Arti slapped him and scratched his face, prompting his violent retaliation.

It was only around 7.15 am on Sunday that Kumar attempted to depart, informing hotel staff that his companion was “unwell and unresponsive”. Staff prevented him from leaving, after which Kumar himself called the police, initially asserting the woman had suffered a medical complication, officials said.

Police, however, swiftly detected inconsistencies. Kumar was detained and Arti’s body was sent for post-mortem examination. The findings were stark, revealing the extreme brutality of the assault despite a lack of obvious external wounds.

“The post-mortem showed multiple rib fractures, ruptured lungs and liver and extensive internal bleeding. The cause of death was shock and haemorrhage due to ante-mortem injuries,” ACP Pandey confirmed, as quoted by HT. Confronted with the evidence, Kumar allegedly confessed, leading to his formal arrest on Monday.

An FIR under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to murder, was registered at Nandgram police station based on a complaint filed by Arti’s son late Sunday night.

Police provided background on the individuals involved. Praveen Kumar, a divorcee, works as a contractor managing cleaning contracts for banks. Arti, a widow, was the mother of two minor children. Investigators indicated their friendship began three years ago and grew closer following the death of Arti’s husband two years ago. They were believed to have been in a relationship.