1 woman, 3 husbands…entry of 4th man leads to murder:Wife’s infidelity triggers violent revenge in Bhopal; 6-year-old daughter becomes key witness

In the first part of Madhya Pradesh Crime Files, you read that on July 18, 2022, a woman and her lover were brutally murdered on the street in Bhopal’s Ashoka Garden area. The attackers were the woman’s second husband, Sunil, her brother, and her brother-in-law. Sunil murdered both victims right in front of his six-year-old daughter’s eyes. Witnesses at the scene caught Sunil and handed him over to the police. The other two accused fled. Why did the woman’s husband and her own brother take such a drastic step? Who was murdered? Had someone else entered the woman’s life? Read the sequential story of a wife’s infidelity and its horrific consequences. The story of love, marriage, and infidelity When the police investigation began to unravel the layers of this murder, a story emerged whose script had been written years ago in Vidisha. First marriage and divorce Rachna, a resident of Vidisha, married a young man named Ramesh in 2014. It was an arranged marriage that did not last long. Due to mutual discord, Rachna left Ramesh and returned to her parents’ home. Sunil’s arrival and love marriage Sunil Malviya entered Rachna’s life while she was dealing with loneliness and heartbreak. A friendship that started on social media soon turned into love. They married and settled in Bhopal. Their married life was happy for seven years, during which they had a daughter and a son. Everything seemed normal—but another character was about to enter this story. When the wife fell for a friend In 2021, Sunil and Rachna celebrated their son’s birthday with great fanfare. Their friend Rajendra Malviya, who often visited their home, attended the party. It was here that Rachna and Rajendra grew close. Friendship turned into love, and Rachna’s heart once again slipped away. Deception, search and murder conspiracy In January 2022, Rachna suddenly disappeared from home with her two children. A worried Sunil searched everywhere and even filed a missing person’s report at a Vidisha police station, but she could not be found. Rachna had actually come to Bhopal with her new lover, Rajendra. In the Ashoka Garden area, they rented a house and started living together in a live-in relationship. Seven months later, in July 2022, Sunil discovered that his wife was cheating on him and living with Rajendra in Bhopal. A fire of revenge ignited within him. He immediately reached Bhopal and met Rachna’s brother, Devendra Malviya, explaining the full story of his sister’s infidelity. Surprisingly, Devendra was also angered by Rachna’s actions. He decided to support Sunil. Together, they hatched a horrific plot to eliminate Rachna and Rajendra. They also involved Sunil’s cousin, Rohit, in the conspiracy. Reconnaissance for 3 days, then murder The three of them monitored Rachna and Rajendra for three days, learning their timings and routines. On July 18, they executed their plan. On the way, they bought a vegetable-cutting knife from a shop and two strong sticks (shovel handles) from a hardware store, and waited for Rajendra to return from work. Court, witnesses the testimony of the innocent After capturing Sunil at the scene, the police arrested the absconding Devendra and Rohit within a few days. The case reached court. The prosecution had strong evidence and several eyewitnesses. Witness on the roof Kamlesh Lodhi told the court he had witnessed the entire incident, seeing how the three brutally killed the two victims in the middle of the road. Brother-in-Law’s testimony
Sunil’s brother-in-law, Ravi Malviya, testified that Sunil, Devendra, and Rohit had met him on the day of the murder. Sunil had said he was going to meet Rachna. Ravi confirmed that the three traveled on the same bike and bought knives and sticks along the way, proving the murder was premeditated. Most important witness – 6-year-old daughter
The most poignant testimony came from Rachna’s six-year-old daughter. She was present at the time of the murders and saw everything. When the judge asked her what happened, her lisping words shook the entire courtroom. She said, “Mommy and Daddy (Rajendra) and we were coming. Then the first daddy (Sunil) and uncle (Devendra) killed Mommy and Daddy.” Court sentences to life imprisonment After a three-year trial, the court delivered its verdict on November 6, 2025. Based on the evidence, witnesses, and especially the testimony of the innocent daughter, the court convicted Sunil Malviya and Rachna’s brother, Devendra Malviya, for the murders of Rajendra and Rachna. Both were sentenced to double life imprisonment and fined one thousand rupees each. Since the third accused, Rohit, was a minor, his case was transferred to the juvenile court. This story ended on a tragic note: deceit and hatred replaced love and trust, resulting in two deaths, two orphaned children, and the ruin of two families.