Doctor, brother arrested for wife’s murder

By Sagaya Fernando | April 15, 2025

Nagpur, Maharashtra – April 9, 2025 — In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through central India, a senior medical professional has been arrested along with his brother for the brutal murder of his wife, whom he suspected of infidelity. Authorities have confirmed that the murder was premeditated and executed with disturbing precision, before being staged to resemble a botched robbery.

The incident unfolded in Ladikar Layout, Nagpur, a bustling residential area in Nagpur — a major city in the central Indian state of Maharashtra. The victim, Dr. Archana Rahule (48), was a respected senior assistant professor in the Department of Physiotherapy at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur.

The accused, Dr. Anil Rahule (52), an instructor at a private medical college in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and his brother, Raju Rahule (48), a farmer from Khairlanji village in Bhandara district, were both arrested on April 13, following a breakthrough in the investigation.

The Crime Unfolds

According to investigators, on the evening of April 9, 2025, following yet another argument between Anil and Archana, the situation escalated fatally. In a disturbing confession, Anil admitted to summoning his brother, Raju, to the house.

When Raju arrived, Anil reportedly restrained Archana by holding her legs, while Raju struck her fatally on the head with an iron rod. The victim is believed to have died instantly. The two men then staged the scene to mimic a burglary, ransacking the house and activating the central locking system before fleeing the crime scene.

The Cover-Up

Anil returned to the house three days later, on the night of April 12, feigning shock and grief upon "discovering" his wife's decomposing body. He alerted neighbours with loud cries, prompting someone to call the police. However, police were immediately suspicious due to the advanced state of decomposition, which indicated the murder occurred days earlier.

Further inconsistencies in Anil’s account began to unravel the cover-up. He claimed to have been in Raipur on April 9, but mobile phone location tracking revealed his presence in Nagpur on the day of the murder. Moreover, his failure to contact Archana during the three days she was dead raised red flags.

Police Commissioner Ravinder Singhal stated:

“Our investigation indicates that Dr. Rahule’s deep mistrust and jealousy were the driving forces behind this heinous act. Forensic evidence, digital tracking, and testimonies all align to confirm the premeditated nature of the murder.”

Family Turmoil and Digital Clues

Police uncovered encrypted communications between the two brothers, exchanged over several months, suggesting that the murder had been planned well in advance. Archana had reportedly confided in her sister, Dr. Nima Sonare (43), about the escalating violence and threats from her husband.

Inspector Bhedodkar of Hudkeshwar Police Station, who led the investigation, confirmed:

“Both suspects have been taken into custody. We are probing additional motives and whether others were aware of the conspiracy.”

The couple’s son, a third-year medical student in Pune, was away at the time of the murder.

Broader Implications

This case has not only highlighted the hidden violence that can exist in seemingly educated households, but has also brought into question how domestic abuse is handled, even among professionals. The medical fraternity in Nagpur expressed shock and grief, with many colleagues of Dr. Archana calling for stricter protections for women facing domestic threats.

Forensics, digital evidence, and testimonies converged to reveal a calculated, cold-blooded murder that was nearly passed off as a robbery. But as the façade crumbled, what remained were a story of jealousy, betrayal, and the fatal consequences of unaddressed rage.