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In a shocking incident from Hazaribag, Jharkhand, a 30-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife and staging the scene as a road accident. The motive? To claim a ₹30 lakh life insurance payout. The police now say the case is not just a murder but a cold, calculated act of insurance fraud.
What Happened That Night
According to police sources, the incident dates back to October 9, when local passersby spotted a couple lying injured near the roadside stretch between Padma and Itkhori on NH-33. The husband, Mukesh Kumar Mehta, feigned unconsciousness beside his wife, Sevanti (or Sweta) Kumari, who was later declared dead at a hospital.
Initial assessments treated the tragedy as a hit-and-run. However, as investigators dug deeper, inconsistencies began to emerge. The motorcycle showed odd damage, and Mukesh’s wounds were superficial and oddly positioned not in line with a serious collision.
Suspicion, Investigation, and Confession
Local residents raised suspicions during the last rites: Mukesh showed minimal distress, and his physical condition contradicted claims of a serious accident. These reports prompted police to intensify questioning, forensics, and checking call logs and CCTV footage.
Under mounting evidence, Mukesh reportedly broke down and confessed. He admitted that he had taken out a ₹30 lakh life insurance policy on his wife some time ago and planned to kill her such that the death would appear accidental. On the night in question, he allegedly struck her with a helmet blow, strangled her, then placed her body on the roadside and inflicted minor injuries on himself to fortify his accident story.
Motive, Arrest & Charges
Sources say Mukesh was under financial strain and believed the insurance money would ease his burden. He married Sevanti just four months earlier, adding a chilling immediacy to the betrayal.
He was arrested and sent to judicial custody. The police have registered multiple charges: murder, fraudulent insurance claim, and related offenses. Investigators are coordinating with the life insurance company to freeze any disbursement and probe the policy application itself.
Broader Implications and Concerns
This case is a stark example of how insurance schemes can be weaponized for criminal intent. While insurance is meant to provide financial safety, such abuse erodes public trust and burdens insurers with increased fraud risks.
Experts warn that without strict regulation, verification, and vigilance, more such tragedies may occur under the veneer of “accidents.” Authorities are likely to review application protocols, nominee checks, medical assessments, and postmortem verifications more severely in the wake of this case.
A Warning Echoes in Hazaribag
This horrifying act will leave lasting scars on a community already sensitized by crime. For the village where Mukesh and Sevanti lived, the betrayal is deeply personal, a reminder that even close bonds can mask dark motives. As prosecutors prepare charges and the courts take over the task of justice, the story serves as a grim warning: behind some tragedies lies planning, greed, and deception, not heartbreak.
