Wife's Murder, Businessman Gets Life Sentence and 'Mastermind' Girlfriend Freed... The Terrifying Story of the Jyoti Murder Case!

Jyoti Murder Case: The notorious Jyoti murder case from Kanpur is in the limelight again. Accused of being involved in the murder plot, Manisha Makheeja, girlfriend of the conspiracy planner Piyush Shyamdasani, has been acquitted by the Allahabad High Court, due to lack of evidence. However, the life imprisonment sentence for Jyoti's husband Piyush and four others remains intact.
Jyoti Murder Case: T

Source: aajtak

The sensational Jyoti murder case from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh is once again in the spotlight. In this case, the complicity accused, Piyush Shyamdasani's girlfriend Manisha Makheeja, has been acquitted by the Allahabad High Court due to a lack of evidence, although she was alleged to be involved in the conspiracy. Meanwhile, the life sentences for Jyoti's husband Piyush and four accomplices have been upheld.

This gruesome murder that took place a decade ago shook the entire nation. People couldn't fathom how a husband could orchestrate the brutal killing of his wife within barely 20 months of marriage. Why did he urge the murderers to let him hear her screams at the climax of the crime? Let’s delve into the terrifying story of the Jyoti murder case.

Sunday, July 27, 2014. Kanpur was bustling with daily business as usual when billionaire businessman Om Prakash Dasani's son, Piyush, reported to the police that his wife had been abducted along with their car by motorcycle-riding criminals—leaving a city in panic.

As a notable individual, the son of a billionaire businessman, Piyush's call set the police force into full motion. The city police heightened patrols, searching for Piyush's missing car and his wife Jyoti. At home, Piyush was in tears. The news of Jyoti's abduction spread like wildfire across the city.

The Story Piyush Told the Police

Relatives and fellow businessmen began gathering at the Dasani residence as police officials, including Kanpur’s IG and DIG, sought details from Piyush. He recounted that around 11:30 AM, they left a restaurant together in their Honda Accord. Jyoti desired a long drive, but he declined. Upon insistence, Piyush drove towards Rawatpur Road.

Unexpectedly, four unknown motorcycle-riding hoodlums forced their vehicle to stop and surrounded it. they dragged him out and assaulted him.

According to Piyush, three of the assailants forcibly seated Jyoti in their car and fled. As she was being kidnapped, he managed to call Jyoti's phone a few times. During one such attempt, the call was answered, with Jyoti's desperate screams 'Save me!' blaring through the receiver, punctuated by threats and abuse from the kidnappers.

Piyush's Journey to the Police Station

Piyush claimed to seek help from passersby, but none assisted until a biker provided him a ride to Rawatpur. From there, he contacted the police station, informing them of the crime, while also briefing his father and brother. As his statement was recorded, around 1:30 PM, police located his Honda Accord, but with tragedy inside. Jyoti was discovered dead, brutally murdered inside the blood-soaked car.

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Source: aajtak

Piyush and Jyoti Tied the Knot in 2012

Piyush’s father, Om Prakash, renowned for biscuit manufacturing, had arranged the marriage with 24-year-old Jyoti, daughter of Jabalpur-based plastic businessman Shankar Lal Nagdev in November 2012.Piyush was also involved in the family biscuit business. With his wife’s body recovered, forensic teams rushed to the crime scene as investigators scoured the area for leads.

Despite having Piyush's statement, the car, and the victim on their hands, the police were still puzzled about the motive and the killer. After securing Jyoti’s body, it was sent for an autopsy.

The autopsy revealed Jyoti was brutally stabbed 17 times with a sharp object. The murderer had left nothing to chance, ensuring there were no survivors to witness the crime.

Relentless Stabbing of Jyoti

She was ruthlessly pierced 17 times, turning her body into a sieve, with blood soaking through her clothes. With no significant leads initially, investigations continued amidst the post-mortem. Piyush and his family had meanwhile reached the medical facility. It was here that observing officers noted Piyush’s change of clothes from the time of the crime to the post-mortem.

Every detail in such a high-profile case was crucial. Police scrutinized CCTV footage from the restaurant where Piyush dined with Jyoti before the attack. The video revealed an eerie scene; the couple shared a meal in silence, with Piyush engrossed in phone conversations throughout.

The Needle of Suspicion Pointed at Piyush

The investigation was supervised directly by IG Zone Ashutosh Pandey, who left no stone unturned. Along with multiple teams, they used technical surveillance to gather insights into every aspect of Piyush and Jyoti’s life. By post-mortem, they suspected Piyush—especially when video footage contradicted his changing clothes and discovery of no injuries, despite his assault claim.

The Woman Piyush Used to Spend Hours With

Discrepancies in his statements, lack of injuries despite the beating claims, and the delay in reporting the abduction—these oddities led police to dig deeper. Meanwhile, Jyoti’s family arrived from Jabalpur, devastated by their daughter’s death.

Piyush’s call records revealed a curious number he frequently contacted, belonging to Manisha Makheeja. Surveillance confirmed exchanges of over 150 messages between Piyush and Manisha, a local prominent business family’s daughter with ties to Piyush's family business.

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Source: aajtak

Manisha: The Business Tycoon’s Daughter

Manisha, it turned out, was not just any acquaintance. The daughter of Kanpur’s paan masala mogul Harish Makheeja and a major distributor for Piyush’s family business. With this, the pieces started to fall into place—a jigsaw puzzle revealing a sinister picture.

On July 31, 2014, armed with crucial leads, police arrested Piyush. Initially defiant, a confrontation with Manisha shattered his facade, forcing him to confess to plotting Jyoti’s murder with accomplices.

Piyush Orchestrated Jyoti’s Murder

In confession, he admitted to hiring driver Avadhesh and servant Renu, who executed the crime. Unbeknownst to Jyoti, Piyush planned the long drive as a setup, knowing her fate was sealed in the car at a prearranged spot, where Avadhesh relentlessly stabbed her. Having destroyed all evidence, they left the crime scene.

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Source: aajtak

Jyoti Complained About Piyush to Her In-laws

During the subsequent probe, police found a diary containing Jyoti's confessions of suspecting Piyush’s extramarital affair. She had confided her concerns to her in-laws, noting his late-night absences. Jyoti’s diary painted a grim picture of domestic life hindered by fear of dishonor and emotional abuse, worsened by their turbulent start.

Despite her attempts to hold the facade of being Piyush’s wife, the diary recorded a series of mental anguish and grievances addressed to no one—capturing her eerie feeling of being a mere 'wife in name'. As the scandal unraveled, all involved faced arrest and presence in court by November 22, 2020.

Piyush and Manisha’s Conspiracy Plan

It is believed that Manisha harbored resentment towards Jyoti’s marriage to Piyush. After overhearing Manisha’s call, Jyoti confronted Piyush, whose loyalty lay elsewhere. Unable to tolerate Jyoti, Manisha and Piyush plotted the murder. Yet amid flimsy evidence, Manisha now stands exonerated by the High Court, walking free of murder charges.

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