Lucknow pathologist murder: Ramlila scriptwriting skills helped son construct cover-up, say police

• Akshat Singh used acting skills to mislead police after murder
• He allegedly killed and dismembered his father over a cash dispute
• Police are examining digital and physical evidence in the case

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In a chilling revelation, investigators probing the brutal murder of 49-year-old Lucknow pathologist Manvendra Singh have uncovered that the theatrical expertise of his son Akshat Pratap Singh may have been deployed not on stage, but in crafting an elaborate cover story to evade justice.

Akshat, 24, who is known in his locality for writing Ramlila scripts, assigning roles and portraying intense characters such as Parashuram and Ravan, allegedly drew upon his creative background to construct a "convincing narrative" aimed at misleading investigators in the immediate aftermath of the crime, police officials were cited by TOI as saying.

A video circulating on social media purportedly shows Akshat in the role of Parashuram during a local Ramlila presentation, underscoring his deep involvement in theatrical productions.

According to investigators, the accused used his understanding of story structure and character motivation to sequence events and explanations in a manner that appeared coherent and plausible when he was initially questioned. Akshat’s scriptwriting and stage experience reportedly helped him build a complete, believable version of events to deflect suspicion.

The murder occurred in the early hours of February 19 following a heated domestic dispute. According to neighbours, Manvendra Singh had returned home that night to discover that Rs 50 lakh in cash was missing from his residence. When confronted, Akshat allegedly admitted to stealing the money to renew a liquor licence, the online application for which was set to expire on February 23.

The revelation triggered a fierce argument, during which an enraged Manvendra slapped his son and reportedly pointed a rifle at him, according to reports.

Around 4 am, while his father slept, Akshat allegedly took the same rifle and shot him. In the hours that followed, he moved the body from the family's third-floor residence to a vacant room on the ground floor, where he used a machine to dismember the corpse. Reports said he severed both hands, the legs below the knees and decapitated the victim.

The dismembered body parts were allegedly disposed of over two days near Sadrauna on the outskirts of Lucknow, approximately 21 kilometres from the family home. The torso, wrapped in a sleeping bag, was kept inside a blue drum in the accused's car. Akshat was preparing to dispose of it on February 22 when the arrival of his father's liquor shop accountant at the residence reportedly forced him to abort the plan.

Police are now scrutinising a range of digital and physical evidence, including mobile data, call records, messages, social media activity, bank transactions and CCTV footage from routes allegedly used to dispose of the remains.

Investigations continue as authorities piece together the sequence of events leading to one of the most macabre crimes to emerge from Lucknow in recent memory.