Kamal Ghorui
INDORE: A late-night murder in Gondikheda Charan village of Dhar district on Tuesday turned out to be a planned crime with the victim’s wife, who initially tried to pass it off as a robbery, emerging as key accused.The woman, Priyanka Purohit (27) was arrested along with her lover Kamlesh (33), after the narrative of a violent robbery began to crumble within hours of the probe, the police said.Investigators found that the murder was planned in advance. Kamlesh had allegedly paid around Rs 100,000 to one Surendra to execute the killing, while the duo scripted the crime to resemble a break-in. Surendra is currently absconding.Priyanka had told police that three to four men entered the house at night, held them hostage in separate rooms and fled with jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh and Rs 50,000 in cash after killing her husband. During investigation, the supposedly looted ornaments were recovered from within the house, raising immediate suspicion.ASP Parul Belapurkar said that inconsistencies in Priyanka’s statements, her behaviour, and missing mobile evidence pointed to foul play. The nature of the attack — including a deep, targeted head injury — suggested intent rather than a botched robbery. Forensic and circumstantial evidence at the scene further strengthened doubts about the sequence she described.Within six hours, sustained questioning broke her version. She confessed to plotting the murder with Kamlesh, driven by their relationship and the desire to eliminate her husband.Police said Priyanka had been married to Devkrishna since she was around 15. She had recently returned from her parental home days before the incident, during which investigators believe the final plan was set in motion.A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS..
