A domestic argument at a rented house in Kurukshetra, Haryana, turned into a murder investigation after a 40-year-old man was found dead with severe injuries to his abdomen.
His wife, Vimla Devi, was allegedly found near his body and later jumped from the terrace after their landlord arrived. The post-mortem added another unexplained detail to the case: part of the man's liver and his right kidney were reportedly missing.
Police have not yet established the motive and are waiting for Vimla's statement after she recovers from her injuries.
The Argument That Preceded The Murder
The incident took place on Saturday at the couple's rented accommodation near Raj Palace on Pehowa Road in Kurukshetra.
The deceased was identified as Rajesh, 40. He was originally from Dhampur village in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district and had been living in Kurukshetra with Vimla for around a year.
Rajesh worked as a water-supply employee with a company on Pehowa Road. The couple had been married for several years but did not have children.
Their landlord, Rinku, told police that he heard the couple arguing at around 5pm.
He went upstairs to check what was happening. According to his account, he found Rajesh lying in a pool of blood with serious injuries to his abdomen.
Rinku alleged that Vimla was attempting to put Rajesh's protruding intestines into a plastic bag when she noticed him.
She then allegedly jumped from the terrace. Vimla survived the fall but suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
What Did The Post-Mortem Reveal?
The post-mortem examination gave investigators more questions to answer.
Forensic expert Dr Gaurav Kaushik said Rajesh had a deep incision of around 37cm across his abdomen. His intestines were protruding through the wound.
The examination also reportedly found that around half of his liver and his right kidney were missing.
Police are now investigating whether the missing organs were connected to the attack and trying to establish what happened to them.
Three knives of different sizes were recovered from the house. Police and forensic teams also examined the scene and collected evidence.
So, What Was The Motive?
This is one of the biggest unanswered questions in the case.
Police have not established the motive for Rajesh's alleged murder.
The landlord reportedly told investigators that Vimla was involved in jhaad-phoonk, referring to traditional healing or exorcism practices. He also said the couple frequently quarrelled.
However, these claims have not been established as the reason for the killing. Police are examining the couple's relationship, their reported disputes and the circumstances inside the house before the attack.
The missing liver and kidney have also become part of the investigation. Police are trying to determine whether the organs went missing during the attack or whether there is another explanation.
What Police Have Done So Far
Police recovered three knives from the rented house and collected forensic evidence from the crime scene.
Vimla remained in hospital because of the injuries she suffered after allegedly jumping from the terrace. Police said they would question her once her medical condition improved.
Adarsh police station SHO Surender Sandhu said her statement would be important in establishing the sequence of events and the possible motive. Police said they would proceed with her arrest and interrogation according to her medical condition.
For now, the case rests on the evidence collected from the house, the landlord's account, the post-mortem findings and Vimla's eventual statement.
Importantly, although police have accused Vimla of the killing, the allegations have not yet been proved in court.
The Questions Investigators Still Need To Answer
The investigation now centres on several points.
What exactly happened during the argument between Rajesh and Vimla? What led to the fatal attack? Why were three knives found inside the house? And most importantly, how did part of Rajesh's liver and his right kidney go missing?
Police are expected to get a clearer picture once Vimla is medically fit to be questioned.
Until then, the motive and the complete sequence of events remain under investigation.
TL;DR | News At Glance
What happened?
Rajesh, 40, was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, Vimla Devi, at their rented home in Kurukshetra. She allegedly tried to put his intestines into a bag before jumping off the roof when their landlord arrived.
What did the police find?
Police recovered three knives from the house. The post-mortem found a deep abdominal wound and reported that part of Rajesh's liver and his right kidney were missing.
What was the motive?
Police have not established the motive yet and are waiting to question Vimla after she recovers from her injuries.
