The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch successfully apprehended Rajesh alias Rajan Upadhyay, the prime accused in the brutal double murder of his mother and sister in Basti district, Uttar Pradesh. The arrest follows a detailed investigation into the killings, which were motivated by a property dispute within the family.
The tragic murders occurred on the night of December 3, 2024, in Setha village, located under the jurisdiction of Kaptanganj police station in Basti district. According to the police, Rajan, along with co-conspirators Kamlesh Kumar, Kaushal Chandra, Karunakar alias Lallan, Shanti Devi, Ranjana, and Shilpa, orchestrated a deadly plan to murder Godavari Devi (Rajan’s mother) and Soumya (his sister). The accused executed their sinister plot by burning the victims alive in their home.
Dipak Dhola, Police Inspector with the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, confirmed the arrest, stating, “The accused was caught in the Narol area of Ahmedabad after we received a tip-off that he was looking for a job in the area. Our investigation showed that Rajan had fled to Mumbai, then to Surat, before ultimately reaching Ahmedabad.”
The property dispute was rooted in a will left by Avadhesh, the late father of Rajan and Soumya. The will allocated 20 bighas of land to Godavari Devi and Soumya, while Rajan and his brother Karunakar were given only 1.5 bighas each. Dissatisfied with this, Rajan allegedly conspired to eliminate his mother and sister to seize their share of the family property.
Further investigation revealed that the accused had made several attempts to harm the victims prior to the fatal night. On November 20, 2024, Karunakar borrowed Rs3,50,000 from a plastic company and traveled to Setha village, where heated arguments took place between the victims and the accused.
On the night of December 3, the accused carried out their horrific plan. Karunakar attacked Godavari Devi with a brick and strangled her, while Rajan allegedly assaulted and strangled Soumya. Afterward, they dragged the victims into a room, placed them on a bed, and set them on fire using a quilt and a matchstick to destroy any evidence.
The arrest of Rajan alias Rajesh was crucial, as he played a key role in planning and executing the murders. Karunakar, another major conspirator, was also instrumental in the crime. The Crime Branch revealed that the accused had attempted to hire a contract killer but failed due to financial disagreements.
The case was initially filed at Kaptanganj Police Station under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has now taken Rajan into custody and will soon hand him over to the local police for further legal proceedings.
This arrest is the result of coordinated efforts by the police, who had announced a Rs50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the accused. The case has drawn significant attention, underscoring the deadly consequences of property disputes within families. Investigations continue, with police working to apprehend the remaining accused.
