A chilling murder case has sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Meerut, also laying bare a tangled web of illicit relationships. A 36-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering her lover, who had been threatening to circulate an obscene video of his wife.

Body discovered in field on Saturday

The victim, identified as Gulafshan (35), was married and had an extra-marital affair with the accused, Sonu (36). Gulafshan’s body was found in a field on Saturday morning, and bore multiple deep wounds, signalling a violent and premeditated attack. Later, the cops also recovered a sharp-edged weapon from a location close to the spot.

Her kin said she had left home on Friday on the pretext of purchasing books for her children. When she did not return, her anxious family members informed the cops, who began hunting for her. Later, she was found dead on Saturday.

Investigators find blackmailing angle during probe

The investigating police personnel said they found a complex and disturbing backdrop involving alleged illicit relationships. According to them, Gulafshan, who was in a relationship with Sonu, had allegedly been threatening him to circulate an explicit video of his wife online, unless he paid her money.

The video was reportedly filmed by Gilafshan’s husband, Monu, who was said to be in a relationship with Sonu’s wife. The tangled web of illicit relationships is said to have escalated tensions, as per police.

Sonu confesses to crime during interrogation

The police detained Sonu for questioning. During sustained interrogation, he confessed to murdering Gulafshan. Police said he allegedly lured Gulafshan to an isolated field on the pretext of meeting, and then stabbed her with a sharp-edged weapon.

He repeatedly struck her on the head, neck and body. The cops also noted signs of resistance at the crime scene, including Gulafshan’s one severed finger. Bloodstains spread across a wide area further indicated that she had resisted the attack.

Woman’s father lodges complaint, accused booked

Gulafshan’s father, Shahid lodged a complaint, after which, the police registered a murder case against Sonu. They took him into custody, and said further legal proceedings are underway in the case. Additional aspects of the incident, including the role of other persons involved, are being examined, the police said.