The quiet village of Kotwa in the Maniyar police station area of Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, has been rocked by the shocking murder of a newlywed woman. Accusations are flying that the woman was killed and that her in-laws tried to make it look like a suicide by hanging her body from a fan hook with a scarf. The victim's family filed a complaint, prompting the police to register a case and arrest three women.
According to reports, the young bride, Sapna, 22, wife of Narendra Chauhan, was found dead in her in-laws' house, her body hanging eerily from a ceiling fan. This discovery initially suggested a grim suicide. However, the police, alerted to the incident, arrived promptly at the scene. They took possession of the body and sent it for post-mortem examination.
Station House Officer Ratnesh Dubey stated that, following a complaint by Sapna's maternal grandfather, Babbu Chauhan, an FIR was registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Dowry Prohibition Act. Sapna's husband, Narendra Chauhan, his sister Champa Devi, and two sisters-in-law, Pooja Devi and Reena Devi, have been named in connection with the case. Sapna married Narendra Chauhan earlier this year on March 2, 2025.
Sapna's family accuses her in-laws of demanding dowry, including 90,000 rupees transferred via bank, three lakh rupees in cash, a gold chain, and a ring. Despite providing these, Sapna suffered continuous harassment as her in-laws demanded a Bullet motorcycle and an additional three lakh rupees. When her family refused, it's alleged that Sapna was murdered.
The police suggest that the body was hung from the fan to simulate a suicide. However, even initial investigations indicate signs of murder. After completing necessary legal formalities, the police remanded the arrested women to judicial custody. Meanwhile, Sapna's husband, Narendra, remains at large, and the police are actively searching for him.
