Politician’s affair ends in wife’s murder; arrest

By Sagaya Fernando | February 18, 2025

Anokh Mittal, a 35-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker and businessman, along with his 24-year-old paramour, Pratiksha, and five contract killers, was arrested by Ludhiana police (in the state of Punjab in India) on February 17, 2025, for the brutal murder of Mittal’s wife, Manvi (33), also known as Lipsy. The murder, orchestrated by Mittal to marry his girlfriend, was carried out after the victim discovered her husband's extramarital affair, which had led to constant marital conflict.

The couple got married 12 years ago and have two children, a 12-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

Murder for Love

Police investigation revealed that Mittal had been having an affair with his employee, Pratiksha, for the past four years and they wanted to get married. Mittal had attempted to murder his wife twice before but failed, claim the police.

The murder plot was hatched a few weeks prior when Mittal, Pratiksha, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, a key figure in the murder scheme, arranged for a hitman to kill Manvi. The contract was set for Rs 2.5 lakh, with Rs 50,000 paid upfront. In addition to Mittal and his girlfriend, the five arrested contract killers include Amritpal Singh alias Balli (26), Gurdeep Singh alias Maan (25), Sonu Singh (24), Sagardeep Singh alias Teji (30), and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, the mastermind behind the attack.

A Calculated Plan

Police say the murder was carefully planned, with Mittal scouting locations and even choosing a quiet area near Dehlon – a village about 19 km south in the outskirts of Ludhiana - due to its lack of traffic and CCTV coverage. He and the contract killers visited the site twice to ensure it was an ideal spot for the crime.

On the night of the murder, Mittal and Manvi were returning home from a restaurant when he pretended to need a break. He stopped the car, and the attackers followed the plan, striking Manvi while Mittal pretended to be unconscious after being drugged. The assailants left with the couple's vehicle and valuables, leaving Manvi to succumb to her injuries.

Discrepancies in Mittal’s Story

Mittal’s initial claim of a robbery gone wrong raised suspicion among the police. He stated that he and his wife were attacked by robbers who drugged him, assaulted Manvi, and stole their belongings.

However, police found inconsistencies in his statements. Despite him suffering only minor injuries, Mittal's wife had been brutally assaulted, suffering 25 injuries, including 13 to her head, with a broken skull being the cause of her death. His changing statements and inability to explain why he stopped at an isolated spot soon after leaving the restaurant pointed to a deeper truth.

A Family's Grief

Manvi's family had always been skeptical of Mittal’s robbery narrative. They became even more convinced of his guilt after hearing of his affair and discovering the brutality of the crime. Manvi's uncle, Arun Kumar Garg, expressed outrage, demanding death penalty for the accused. “If he wanted to marry his worker, he should have divorced his wife. Instead, he got her killed so brutally,” Garg said.

Autopsy Reveals Brutality

An autopsy conducted by a team of five doctors revealed the extent of Manvi’s injuries. The report confirmed that she had sustained severe trauma, including multiple head injuries, fractures, and other signs of brutal assault. The head injury was identified as the fatal blow.

A Pattern of Failed Attempts

This was not the first time Mittal had attempted to eliminate his wife. Police uncovered prior schemes, including one where Mittal tried to procure a poisonous injection to kill Manvi. However, those plans fell through, and it wasn’t until he conspired with Pratiksha and Gurpreet that the murder was successfully carried out.