Daijiworld Media Network – Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, Oct 17: A 19-year-old woman, her lover, and an accomplice have been arrested for allegedly murdering her husband in a meticulously planned honey-trap conspiracy, the Nagothane police in Raigad said on Wednesday.

The victim, Krishna Namdev Khandvi, 23, a resident of Gaulwadi village in Pen and an employee at a steel plant, had been reported missing on October 10. He was married to the accused, Dipali Nirgude, since 2022. Investigations revealed that Dipali and her childhood sweetheart, Umesh Mahakal, 21, had been in a relationship for two years and allegedly conspired to kill Khandvi to be together.

The police formed a Special Investigation Team, analysing CCTV footage and call data records. The probe uncovered that Mahakal recruited Supriya Chaudhary, 19, a nursing student from Adgaon Devla, to create a fake Instagram profile under the alias ‘Payal Wargurde’ to emotionally manipulate Khandvi. Once the victim was lured into meeting ‘Payal’, he was taken to a secluded forest area near Wasgaon. There, Mahakal allegedly strangled Khandvi from behind using a stole.

To destroy evidence and prevent identification, chemical substances were poured on the victim’s face, hands, and chest, and his mobile phone was destroyed near Pali after removing the SIM card. Chaudhary later led the police to the crime scene, where Khandvi’s body was recovered.

All three accused — Dipali Nirgude, Umesh Mahakal, and Supriya Chaudhary — have been arrested and charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, mischief, and common intent.