When Love Turns Lethal: Alarming Rise in Spousal Murders Across India Driven by Illicit Affairs

Spousal killings in India: In a country where marriage is often considered a sacred bond, a chilling pattern is emerging—one where love stories are ending not in heartbreak, but in bloodshed. From small towns to metro cities, India is witnessing a disturbing surge in spousal killings, many fuelled by illicit affairs and concealed behind seemingly perfect lives.

In recent weeks, a string of horrific cases has stunned the nation—each one more shocking than the last. As secrets unravel, they expose a dark and dangerous underside to modern relationships.

The Drum of Death: Meerut’s Most Gruesome Murder

What was supposed to be a joyous family celebration turned into one of the most gruesome murders Meerut has ever seen. Saurabh Rajput, a 29-year-old former merchant navy officer, returned from London to surprise his wife Muskan and daughter on their birthdays. Instead, he was drugged, stabbed, and dismembered into 15 pieces. His body was stuffed into a drum filled with cement—sealed and abandoned.

Behind this monstrous act was his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover Sahil. The couple, now in Meerut district jail, had plotted the murder meticulously. Shockingly, Muskan is now pregnant, further complicating an already twisted tale.

Love, Likes & Lies: YouTuber Ravina’s Chilling Betrayal

In Rewari, Haryana, digital fame turned deadly when YouTuber Ravina Rao murdered her husband Praveen. The motive? He caught her red-handed with her lover Suresh. In a panic, the duo strangled him and dumped his body 6 km away in a drain. CCTV footage sealed their fate, showing the two transporting the corpse on a motorcycle. Ravina is now in custody, but her partner-in-crime, Suresh, remains on the run.

Venomous Lies: Snake Used As a Murder Weapon in Meerut

In a case that sounds more like a crime thriller, a man’s body was found lying next to a deadly snake, hinting at a tragic snakebite. But the autopsy told a different story—he was strangled before the snake was planted beside him to mislead investigators. Police later confirmed that the victim’s wife and her lover had purchased the snake for ₹1,000 to stage the murder.

Their confession revealed the motive: the husband, Amit, had discovered the affair, leading to frequent arguments. What followed was a cold-blooded plan to eliminate him and cover it up as a freak accident.

Teen Bride Turns Accomplice in Brutal Burhanpur Killing

In Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur, a 25-year-old man, Golden Pandey, was lured off his bike and stabbed 36 times using a broken beer bottle. The attackers? His 17-year-old wife’s lover and his friends. The case shocked the nation not just because of its brutality but also due to the minor’s involvement in orchestrating such a heinous crime.

A Disturbing Trend: Love Turned Weapon

While the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) doesn’t have exclusive data on spousal killings, its 2022 report paints a grim picture. Crimes under the category of “cruelty by husband or relatives” account for 31.4% of all crimes against women—the highest of any category. These figures, however, may only be scratching the surface, as many cases of partner violence, betrayal, and revenge go unreported or misclassified.

What’s Driving the Surge?

Experts suggest that a combination of factors is fuelling this surge—breakdown of communication in marriages, emotional alienation, and the allure of extramarital affairs in the digital age. Social media and dating apps have made secret liaisons easier, while traditional systems of support within families are eroding fast.

Mental health experts also point out the lack of emotional regulation, impulsivity, and the growing trend of solving relationship conflicts through violence.

Time to Talk About Intimate Partner Violence

As more of these shocking cases come to light, the urgency to address the issue of intimate partner violence becomes clearer than ever. It’s no longer just about domestic abuse or dowry-related deaths. The face of violence in relationships has changed—and so must our approach to tackling it.

Behind every “happy couple” photo, there could be a story waiting to explode. It’s time society opens its eyes and talks more openly about mental health, relationship counselling, and early intervention before more lives are lost in the name of love.