On July 13, 36-year-old Karan Dev was found dead at his residence in Uttam Nagar, West Delhi. His wife, Sushmita, screamed for help, telling neighbours and in-laws that Karan had been electrocuted after a mobile charging wire got tangled around his hand.
Doctors raised red flags when the body was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital because of marks on the body and foam near the mouth, which pointed to something much more sinister.
Autopsy Breaks the Narrative
A medical examination confirmed the injuries were consistent with electrocution but also indicated the victim was unconscious when it happened. Delhi Police filed a case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC due to growing suspicion.
Brother’s Instinct Unlocks the Truth
The crucial lead was discovered by Kunal Dev, Karan’s brother. During Karan’s night shifts, he observed that Rahul, a male relative, was frequently present at the house. Rahul made the crucial mistake of leaving his phone behind the night of the death.
When Kunal accessed Rahul’s phone, he stumbled upon a chilling Instagram chat between Rahul and Sushmita, outlining a plot to kill Karan.
Instagram Chats Lay Out the Plot
Police confirmed the chat logs included explicit instructions:
“Give him 12 sleeping pills.”
“Just electrocute him.”
The exchange left no ambiguity. According to police, Sushmita had confessed during questioning that she crushed sleeping pills into her husband’s food. Once he was sedated, Rahul entered the house, and they electrocuted him using a mobile charger.
Police Crack the Case in 24 Hours
Delhi Police moved swiftly. After verifying the digital evidence, both Sushmita and Rahul were arrested. Officers said the pair were in a relationship and plotted the murder over several weeks. The killing was made to look like an accident to avoid suspicion.
The couple’s six-year-old child is now in the custody of Karan’s family. Police have informed Child Welfare Services to ensure the child’s psychological and legal needs are addressed.
Karan’s family rejected Sushmita’s claims of marital discord and said the killing was motivated by greed and infidelity.
