The body of a Uttar Pradesh woman, who was missing for four months, was found buried near the residence of a district magistrate in Kanpur. Police identified the victim as 32-year-old Ekta, wife of a UP businessman.
Ekta and her husband Rahul Gupta were residents of Kanpur's Civil Lines area. Ekta, who had not been going to her gym for some time, decided to go on June 24. She failed to return, after which her husband approached the police.
Rahul Gupta filed a case in Kotwali police station against the trainer of her gym, Vimal Soni. Gupta charged that Soni lured his wife after giving her a protein shake laced with intoxicants. He then drove away with her, Gupta alleged. In the complaint, Gupta alleged that lakhs of rupees in cash and gold were missing from his wife's bank accounts and home, respectively.
An investigation was launched into the case and police recovered the vehicle Soni is said to have used. They recovered the remains of a rope, broken clutch, towel, SIM tray and other items from the vehicle.
Special teams were sent to Pune, Agra and Punjab in search of the trainer.
Police finally zeroed in on Soni on Saturday evening and he was arrested. On interrogation, Soni confessed to the police he had murdered Ekta and buried her body.
DCP (North Kanpur) Shravan Kumar Singh told reporters that Ekta was upset over Soni's impending wedding and asked him to call it off. She had come to the gym on June 24 to confront Soni, and both entered into an altercation over the issue.
An argument ensued and Soni said he hit Ekta on her neck, following which she fainted. He then murdered her and buried her body in an area which comprises bungalows allotted to government officials. He also showed the police the area where the body was buried.
The police officer reached the spot with the forensic team and started digging and the remains were recovered at around 12:30 am. Her husband identified her by her clothes and hair.
The area where her body was found was considered one of the most secure places in the city. Police are also investigating whether the accused took her jewellery and money.