Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh – A Special Court under the SC/ST Act has imposed life imprisonment on a woman and her husband for the murder of 22‑year‑old Ankit from Jasola village, Khatoli block. Both convicts were also ordered to pay a fine of ₹50,000 each, and the verdict was delivered via video‑link from the district jail.

Background of the crime

On 7 January 2024, Ankit visited the residence of Meenakshi, a local resident, accompanied by another village youth. The two were reportedly in a romantic relationship. When Ankit’s father, Ranveer Singh, and brother, Lavkush, learned of his whereabouts and found the door locked, they alerted the police.

Police entry and discovery

Officers forced entry and found Ankit unconscious on the floor, bearing multiple injuries to his forehead, hands and legs. The subsequent forensic report indicated that he had been beaten with sticks, leading to his death.

Arrests and evidence collection

Meenakshi and her husband Sonu were apprehended on 10 January 2024. The investigation, led by Circle Officers Dr Ravishankar and Yatendra Nagar, recovered several pieces of incriminating evidence from the couple’s home, including:

  • A damaged mobile phone identified by Ankit’s father
  • A blood‑stained quilt
  • Three strands of hair and two shirt buttons
  • Two scarves, a cotton cord and four wooden sticks allegedly used in the assault

Assistant District Government Counsel Ashish Kumar Tyagi testified that the post‑mortem revealed eighteen distinct injury marks on the victim’s body.

The trial

The prosecution presented seven witnesses, among them Ankit’s father and brother, and argued that Sonu, a truck driver who was frequently away from home, had a motive to eliminate Ankit after discovering the affair. According to the prosecution, Meenakshi feared that her husband would abandon her if he learned of her relationship with Ankit, prompting the fatal attack.

Verdict and sentencing

After nearly three years of legal proceedings, the court convicted both accused on a Friday and pronounced the sentence on the following Wednesday. In addition to life terms, each was fined ₹50,000. The judgment marks the culmination of a 997‑day legal saga.

"Justice has been served after a protracted investigation and trial, sending a strong message that such violent crimes will not be tolerated," the presiding officer, Dr Vijay Kumar, remarked.