UP woman plots mother-in-law's murder over property after string of troubled marriages

Jhansi (UP), Jul 2 (PTI) Pooja Jatav's stint with violence began almost as soon as she got married — 11 years ago – when she allegedly tried to have her husband killed through a shooter.

The failure did not deter her in her pursuit to get a share in her husband's property.

A string of men later, on June 24, she, with the help of her lover Anil Verma and sister Kamla, had her mother-in-law strangled.

With all three behind bars now, their revelations read no less knotty than the plot of a pulp novel.

According to the Uttar Pradesh Police, 55-year-old Sushila Devi was strangled to death in her home – a crime allegedly hatched by Pooja. A part of the plan meant that Verma would decamp with jewellery to make it look like an ordinary robbery, which he did.

Superintendent of Police Gyanendra Kumar Singh said the incident took place in Kumhariya village, and an FIR was lodged on the complaint of Sushila Devi's husband, Ajay Singh.

Police were initially led to believe what they were designed to, that it was an instance of violent robbery. But it soon dawned on them that the murder was planned by the victim's own daughter-in-law, who wanted to seize her property.

Pooja's sister Kamla was also involved in orchestrating the crime, the officer said.

"Police had already arrested the two women earlier and late Tuesday night, acting on a tip-off, police intercepted Pooja's alleged lover and accused Anil Verma near Ghurrariya Tiraha while he was en route to sell the stolen gold," Singh said.

"A brief encounter ensued, during which Anil was shot and injured before being arrested. Police recovered jewellery worth Rs 8 lakh from his possession," he added.

Gwalior-native Verma is undergoing treatment at a local medical college under police custody, he said.

The genesis of the crime, police say, dates back 11 years, when Pooja Jatav, originally from Gwalior, married Ramesh of Orchha.

The marriage turned violent when Pooja allegedly roped in an associate to gun down Ramesh. He was shot at, but survived.

While attending a court hearing in that case, Pooja met Kalyan Singh, a criminal from Kumhariya, Tahrauli, and began living with him as his wife, police said.

Six years later, when Singh died in an accident, Pooja moved in with her elder brother-in-law, Santosh, claiming to be his wife.

"This caused friction in the family, particularly with Santosh's legal wife and their mother, Sushila Devi. Despite support from her partner and father-in-law, Sushila refused to transfer any property to Pooja," the officer said.

Frustrated, Pooja plotted Sushila's murder.

"The motive was clear — greed for property," Singh said. PTI COR KIS VN VN