A shocking murder case has come to light in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district, where a 58-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death, and her body was hidden inside a house for several days before being buried near an under-construction Anganwadi building. Police have arrested three accused, including the victim's son, following an investigation into the crime.

The incident was reported from the Dokda police outpost area, where the victim, identified as Harawati Bai, had been living with her son, Bhushan Ram.

Affair and Land Dispute Behind Murder

According to police, Harawati Bai had a long-running land dispute with her neighbour Shyampati Bai. Investigators also found that Bhushan Ram had been in a relationship with Shyampati Bai for nearly five years.

Police said an argument over the land dispute on the night of July 24 allegedly escalated, following which Shyampati Bai and her mother, Budhmati Bai, strangled Harawati Bai to death.

Body Hidden, Later Buried

Investigators said the accused initially kept the body inside the house to conceal the crime.

The following day, Shyampati Bai allegedly informed Bhushan Ram about his mother's death and asked him not to disclose the incident to anyone. Police claimed the son remained silent and later assisted the two women in disposing of the body.

After several days, when the decomposing body began emitting a foul smell, the three allegedly shifted it during the night and buried it under sand near an under-construction Anganwadi building in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Foul Smell Led to Discovery

The crime came to light on July 30, when local residents noticed a strong foul smell coming from Harawati Bai's locked house and informed the police.

A police team, accompanied by forensic experts and a revenue official, searched the area and recovered a woman's body buried in sand near the construction site. The body was later identified as Harawati Bai.

Son's Conduct Raised Suspicion

During the investigation, police found Bhushan Ram's behaviour suspicious, as he had remained away from the house and was absent during his mother's last rites.

Interrogation reportedly revealed details of his relationship with Shyampati Bai and the alleged sequence of events following the murder. Based on his statement, investigators reconstructed the crime and gathered further evidence.

Police also recovered the spade and other materials allegedly used to bury the body.

Three Sent to Judicial Custody

Based on forensic findings, witness statements, recoveries and the accused persons' statements, police arrested Shyampati Bai, Budhmati Bai and Bhushan Ram.

All three were produced before a local court and have been remanded to judicial custody as further investigation into the case continues.

 Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of Indore-based transport businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, surrendered before a court in Shillong on Wednesday and was subsequently sent to judicial custody, complying with the Supreme Court's direction that had cancelled her bail earlier this month.

Sonam appeared before the Shillong court before the expiry of the three-week deadline granted by the apex court. The Supreme Court had, on July 23, directed her to surrender before the trial court after setting aside the bail granted by the Meghalaya High Court.

Supreme Court Cancelled Bail

A bench of the Supreme Court had observed that the High Court erred in granting bail solely on alleged procedural lapses relating to the communication of arrest grounds.

The court clarified that there is a legal distinction between not informing an accused of the grounds of arrest at all and providing incomplete or inadequate information. It held that a technical deficiency alone could not justify granting bail in a serious criminal case.

The bench had further directed that the murder trial be completed within six months. It also stated that Sonam would be free to seek fresh bail if the trial is not concluded within the stipulated period.

Court Concerned About Trial

While cancelling the bail, the Supreme Court noted that Sonam had acknowledged before the magistrate that she had received the grounds of arrest and related documents.

The bench also observed that the merits of her earlier bail applications had already been examined and rejected. Since the trial had commenced, allowing the accused to remain out on bail at this stage could potentially affect the judicial process.

The case was argued on behalf of the Meghalaya government by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Family Welcomes Surrender

Following Sonam's surrender, Raja Raghuvanshi's brother Vipin Raghuvanshi welcomed the development and thanked the Meghalaya government for its efforts in the investigation.

He expressed hope that the legal proceedings would now move forward and justice would be delivered in the case.

Background of the Case

The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case drew nationwide attention after the Indore-based businessman was allegedly murdered during a trip to Meghalaya. Sonam Raghuvanshi was identified as the principal accused during the investigation and has remained at the centre of the high-profile case.

The Supreme Court's latest order has ensured that the accused returns to judicial custody while the trial proceeds under court supervision.

With Sonam now lodged in jail, the focus shifts to the ongoing trial, which the apex court has directed to be completed within six months to ensure an expeditious conclusion.

A 65-year-old woman has been arrested in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district for allegedly performing a black magic ritual inside a courtroom in an attempt to secure a favourable verdict in a pending family civil dispute. The incident, which reportedly took place on July 9, came to light after court officials reviewed CCTV footage and lodged a police complaint.

The accused, identified as Manjula, was produced before a local court after her arrest and has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Police said they are also investigating whether any other person was involved in the alleged act.

Mustard Seeds Found on Judge's Desk

According to the police, the incident occurred at around 9:40 am inside the courtroom of the First Additional Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class in Chikkaballapur.

Investigators alleged that the woman entered the courtroom during working hours and scattered white mustard seeds, believed to have been used in a ritual associated with black magic, on the judge's chair and the dais.

Court staff later noticed the mustard seeds on the judge's desk, prompting officials to examine CCTV footage installed inside the courtroom.

CCTV Footage Led to Identification

The court administration stated that CCTV footage allegedly captured the woman entering the open courtroom and placing the mustard seeds around the judge's chair.

Following the discovery, the Chief Administrative Officer of the court lodged a formal complaint with the Chikkaballapur Town Police, based on which a criminal case was registered.

Police subsequently traced and arrested the accused.

Investigation Underway

Officials said preliminary questioning indicated that the woman allegedly believed the ritual would influence the outcome of a family-related civil case pending before the court.

Police, however, are continuing their investigation to determine whether she acted alone or if anyone encouraged or assisted her in carrying out the alleged ritual.

Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the pending civil case.

Similar Incident Reported in Delhi

The incident has drawn comparisons with a case reported last year at Delhi's Tis Hazari Court, where a doctor facing a murder trial allegedly scattered rice grains inside a courtroom before proceedings began.

The act disrupted court proceedings for nearly 20 minutes, with some lawyers describing it as an attempt at black magic or witchcraft. The presiding judge imposed a ₹2,000 fine on the accused and remanded him to court custody for one day before he paid the penalty.

Case Under Judicial Process

The Karnataka Police have said the investigation remains in progress and further action will depend on the evidence collected during the probe.

Meanwhile, the accused will remain in judicial custody as investigators examine all aspects of the case, including the motive behind the alleged ritual and whether it involved any larger conspiracy.

Raipur Police have arrested two women on charges of allegedly trapping a businessman in a honey-trap scheme, blackmailing him with photographs and videos, and extorting money by threatening to file a false rape case.

The accused, identified as Nitya Singh, a beauty parlour operator, and Payal alias Aanchal Tiwari, a college student, were arrested by the Civil Lines Police Station and later sent to judicial custody following court proceedings.

Businessman Approaches Police

The case came to light after Jayant Choudhary (38), a businessman and resident of New Sales Tax Colony in Shankar Nagar, lodged a complaint with Civil Lines Police.

According to the complaint, he first came into contact with the two women in May 2026 at Gudhiyari Police Station. The women allegedly maintained contact with him thereafter, seeking financial assistance on the pretext of employment and setting up a beauty parlour.

Alleged Honey-Trap and Blackmail

The complainant alleged that on June 14, the two women called him for a meeting. During the meeting, they allegedly lit a cigarette suspected to contain an intoxicating substance inside his vehicle, after which he began feeling dizzy.

Taking advantage of his condition, the women allegedly accompanied him to his residence and secretly recorded photographs and videos.

The businessman claimed that from the following day, the women began threatening to accuse him of sexual assault unless he paid them money.

Extortion Allegations

According to the FIR, the businessman allegedly handed over ₹25,000 in cash to the accused near Tarun Nagar Haat Bazaar on June 25 in an attempt to avoid public embarrassment.

However, he alleged that the demands continued. On July 1, the women allegedly entered the basement of his office and attempted to remove a bag containing cash from his vehicle.

The complaint further states that on July 10, both women entered his office premises, created a disturbance in front of employees and allegedly threatened to register a rape case if additional money was not paid.

Police Investigation

Following the complaint, Civil Lines Police registered a case under relevant provisions relating to blackmail, criminal intimidation and extortion.

After examining the allegations and collecting preliminary evidence, investigators arrested both women. They were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

Police Statement

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramakant Sahu said the arrests were made after the investigation found prima facie evidence supporting the complainant's allegations of blackmail and extortion.

He added that the investigation is continuing, and police are examining all available digital evidence and other material connected with the case.

Authorities have not disclosed whether any additional individuals were involved or whether further arrests are likely.

The two accused were produced before the court after the expiry of their earlier judicial custody period. Special CBI Judge Ajay Gupta passed the order on an application moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which sought an extension of their custody as the investigation continues.

Representing the agency, Public Prosecutor Neetu Singh argued for the extension before the court. The matter remains under active investigation by the CBI, which is probing an alleged network involved in obtaining and distributing leaked examination papers ahead of the national-level medical entrance test.

According to investigators, the case has so far led to the arrest of 12 individuals. Those arrested include Mangi Lal Bival, Vikas Bival, Dinesh Bival, Yash Yadav, Shubham Khairnar, Manisha Waghmare, Prahlad Kulkarni, Dhananjay Lokhande, Manisha Mandhare, Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar and Dr Manoj Shirure. All the accused are currently lodged in judicial custody.

The case has attracted significant attention due to the seriousness of the allegations and the scale of the examination involved. NEET-UG is one of India’s largest entrance examinations, conducted annually for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country.

The court has also passed several interim orders in the matter over the past few weeks. Earlier, accused Yash Yadav was permitted to appear in the re-conducted NEET-UG examination held on June 21 and was also allowed to attend his sister’s wedding on June 22. In a separate order, the court rejected the regular bail application filed by accused Manisha Waghmare.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed by a government official on May 12, 2026. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Corruption Act and laws related to the use of unfair means in public examinations.

According to the CBI, Mangi Lal Bival allegedly approached Shubham Khairnar to obtain the NEET-UG question paper for his son, Vikas Bival. Investigators claim that leaked examination material was recovered from Mangi Lal Bival’s mobile phone during the probe.

The agency has further alleged that Mangi Lal Bival procured the leaked paper from Yash Yadav for ₹10 lakh and subsequently facilitated its circulation to other candidates. During questioning, Vikas Bival reportedly admitted that he came in contact with Yash Yadav while attending coaching classes in Rajasthan’s Sikar district.

CBI officials believe the accused were part of a larger conspiracy involving the procurement and sale of confidential examination material. The agency has alleged that leaked papers were sold to candidates for amounts reaching up to ₹12 lakh.

The developments come amid continued scrutiny of examination security mechanisms and concerns over malpractice in competitive recruitment and admission tests. Investigators are examining financial transactions, digital evidence and communication records to establish the extent of the alleged network.

With the court extending the judicial custody of two key accused, the investigation is expected to continue in the coming days. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for July 11.

Pune Court Sends Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary to Judicial Custody as Police Probe Deepens in Ketan Agarwal Murder Case

The investigation into the alleged murder of Pune resident Ketan Agarwal has entered a new phase after a local court on Friday sent the two accused, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary, to 14 days of judicial custody. Both have been lodged in Yerwada Central Jail after the court declined the Pune Police's request for an extension of their custodial interrogation.

The order was passed by the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) in Vadgaon, which directed that both accused remain in judicial custody until July 16 while investigators continue gathering evidence.

Court Rejects Polygraph Test Without Consent

One of the key developments during Friday's hearing was the issue of a polygraph, or lie detector, test.

Although Siya Goyal's counsel had earlier indicated that she was prepared to undergo the examination, both accused later refused to give their consent before the court.

Judicial Magistrate A.M. Vibhute ruled that such tests cannot be conducted without the voluntary consent of the accused, effectively closing the possibility of a polygraph examination at this stage of the investigation.

Second Mobile Phone Recovered

Police said they have recovered another mobile phone allegedly hidden at Siya Goyal's residence during searches conducted on Friday.

The device has been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed examination. Investigators believe the handset could contain crucial digital evidence related to the case.

According to police officials, forensic experts have already managed to retrieve a significant amount of deleted data from previously seized mobile phones.

Coded Conversations Under Investigation

Investigators claim the accused communicated through coded language, nicknames and emojis while allegedly discussing the murder plan.

Cyber experts are now assisting the investigation to decode these conversations and determine whether they reveal advance planning or coordination between the accused.

Police officials have not disclosed the exact contents of the recovered chats but believe the digital evidence may strengthen the prosecution's case.

Police Probe Possible Third Accomplice

The investigation has also widened to examine whether another individual had prior knowledge of the alleged conspiracy.

According to police sources, a young man from Maharashtra's Beed district, employed with a private company in Pune's Balewadi area, has been detained for questioning.

Investigators suspect he may have been informed about the alleged murder plan by either Siya Goyal or Chetan Chaudhary before the incident.

Authorities have not named the individual, and officials are reportedly considering whether he should be treated as a witness depending on the outcome of questioning.

Police Outline Alleged Timeline

According to the investigation conducted so far, police believe the alleged conspiracy unfolded over nearly three weeks.

Investigators claim that the plan was conceived on May 31, after Ketan Agarwal suggested trekking at Lohagad Fort, a destination he frequently visited.

Police allege Siya later persuaded Ketan to visit the fort and even hid his passport ahead of an overseas trip, claiming it was part of efforts to prevent alternative travel plans.

Investigators further allege that on June 14, Siya made an initial attempt to push Ketan from the fort, but he survived after grabbing hold of a tree. Police say she later explained the incident by claiming she had tried to save him from a snake.

The prosecution alleges that on June 18, Siya invited Ketan back to Lohagad Fort under the pretext of a pre-wedding photoshoot before travelling to Mahabaleshwar for her birthday celebrations.

Police claim Chetan Chaudhary followed the couple to the location and that both accused allegedly pushed Ketan from behind while he was looking towards the valley, causing his fatal fall.

Investigation Continues

Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal had become engaged on February 11 and were scheduled to marry in November 2026, according to investigators.

With fresh digital evidence under forensic examination and police exploring the possible involvement of additional individuals, the investigation remains active. Officials say further findings from the seized mobile phones and forensic analysis are expected to play a significant role as the case progresses.

The accused remain under judicial custody, while police continue collecting evidence before filing further submissions before the court.

In a significant development in the Ketan Agrawal murder investigation, prime accused Siya Goyal and Chetan Choudhary have flatly refused to undergo a narco-analysis (polygraph) test. The refusal comes despite earlier indications from Siya’s legal counsel suggesting consent. Following the defense team’s strong opposition on Friday, the judge clarified that a polygraph test cannot be legally administered without the explicit consent of the accused. Consequently, the test will not take place, forcing investigators to rely primarily on available technical and circumstantial evidence.

Court Proceedings and Judicial Custody

Upon the expiration of their police remand, the Wadgaon Police presented both suspects before First Class Judicial Magistrate A.M. Vibhute on Friday.

• Police Demand Denied: The Wadgaon Police actively sought an extension of police custody to further interrogate the duo, but the court turned down the request.

• Remand: Magistrate Vibhute remanded both Siya Goyal and Chetan Choudhary to 14 days of judicial custody. They have been sent to Yerwada Central Jail.

Suspicion of a Third Accomplice and Code Words Uncovered

Assistant Police Inspector Pawar informed the court that the investigation has made substantial progress, revealing highly calculated steps taken by the accused:

Key Investigation Findings:
├── Encrypted Talk   : Deleted data recovered from mobile devices reveals the use of 'code words' to plot the murder.
├── Expert Assistance: Cryptographic specialists are being brought in to decode the symbolic language used.
├── Hidden Hardware  : Police recovered an additional hidden mobile phone during a raid at Siya's residence.
└── Third-Party Risk : Recovered chat patterns heavily point to the involvement of a third accomplice.

Furthermore, the police have successfully verified the timeline of events with Chetan Choudhary, seizing the trousers he wore on the day of the crime. Investigators have also drawn up an official crime scene memorandum (panchnama) at the spot where Siya Goyal allegedly discarded her passport to evade tracking.

Police in Raigarh arrested a man accused of raping a woman on the pretext of marriage and refusing to marry her after she became pregnant.

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh for allegedly raping a woman after promising to marry her, and later refusing to accept her when she became pregnant. The accused has been sent to judicial custody following a court appearance.

Case Registered in Punjipathra

The case was registered at Punjipathra police station after the 22-year-old victim, a resident of Dharamjaigarh police station area, filed a written complaint on Thursday. Acting on her statement, police booked the accused and launched an investigation.

Contact Began on Instagram

According to the complaint, the victim came into contact with Sagar Sarathi, a 25-year-old resident of a village in Jashpur district, through Instagram in February 2025. During their conversations, Sagar reportedly introduced himself as unmarried and claimed to work at a plant located in Tarai Maal.

He allegedly kept assuring the woman that he would marry her and keep her as his wife.

Called to Tarai Maal in July

On July 23, 2025, Sagar allegedly called the victim and asked her to come to Tarai Maal. He reportedly took her to a labourers' quarter and established a physical relationship with her after promising to keep her as his wife. Following this, the accused allegedly continued to keep her at his quarters and exploit her, treating her as his wife.

Pregnancy Led to Refusal

In August 2025, when the woman became pregnant, the accused reportedly said he was unable to support a child and sent her back to her home in Dharamjaigarh. He continued visiting her afterward and spoke of marriage, but when she asked to be taken in permanently, he allegedly told her that his first wife was also pregnant and refused to marry her.

Threats to Victim

Sources said the accused pressured the woman to convince her family to arrange her marriage elsewhere. When she refused, he allegedly threatened to kill her.

Police Action and Arrest

Following the threat, the victim approached Punjipathra police station and filed a written complaint. A case was registered, and a female police officer recorded her statement before she underwent a medical examination. Police subsequently detained Sagar Sarathi from a labour colony near Singhal Power Plant in Tarai Maal.

During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted to being in a relationship with the woman and to her pregnancy. Based on the evidence gathered, police arrested him and produced him before the court, from where he was sent to judicial custody.

Local authorities said further investigation into the case is underway, and the medical and forensic findings will form part of the evidence presented during trial.