'Affair, snakebite, Rs 20L insurance': How UP woman, lover plotted husband's murder

MEERUT: With an aim to grab an insurance claim worth Rs 20 lakh, a woman from Meerut connived with her lover, sedated her husband and released a poisonous snake in his blanket before moving to another room with the kid. The snakebite killed him. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday in the Hastinapur region of Meerut.Initially, the woman, Damini Pawar, 30, claimed when she returned to her husband Atul Pawar, 32, at 6 am on Friday, he was lying unconscious. When she witnessed the snake on the bed, she screamed, after which he was rushed to the hospital but doctors declared him dead. The locals killed the snake, which was found on the spot.Later, investigators found a snakebite wound on the right leg. However, Atul’s family refused to subscribe to the woman’s claims and police were involved. By Friday night, the case was solved with the arrest of Damini and her lover, Tushar Kumar.According to SSP Meerut Avinash Pandey, “Damini and Atul had a love marriage seven years ago. And Atul started a playschool three months ago. They hired Tushar as school van driver shortly after the school opening. Damini developed relations with the driver in due course. Atul also had an insurance policy worth Rs 20 lakhs."During investigations, we found repeated calls from Damini’s mobile phone on Tushar’s phone. When Tushar’s phone was checked, a few pictures of a snake in a box were found. "During questioning, both confessed to have orchestrated the crime with a well-thought-out plan. Encouraged by Damini, Tushar bought a snake from the snake charmers. The aim was to secure insurance claim money, after which Tushar would divorce his wife and then both would marry. Now both have been arrested for murder, " SSP Meerut Avinash Pandey added.Besides, two snake charmers, Sonu Kumar and Uday Kumar, have also been arrested in the case. An FIR was filed against four under BNS Sections 103 (1) (murder) and 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, intoxication, etc.)Get the latest City News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Meerut | Silver Rate in Meerut | Bank Holidays in Meerut | Public Holidays in Meerut | Meerut AQI | Weather in Meerut | Petrol Price in Meerut | Diesel Price in Meerut | CNG Price in Meerut | LPG Price in MeerutStay updated with the latest Meerut news. Download the TOI App.