Love, lies and murder: The chilling case of Pooja Mandal

By Sumesh Rajan | May 1, 2025

 

Gurugram, India – In a case that has sent shockwaves through India and raised concerns over identity fraud, religious coercion, and violence against women, a 38-year-old woman was brutally murdered by her live-in partner after a web of deception, betrayal, and abuse.

Victim: Pooja Mandal

Pooja Mandal, a native of Bengali Colony in Nanakmatta, Uttarakhand, was a mother of two and a divorcee since 2019. After her separation, she moved to Gurugram, Haryana, in search of work and stability. She found employment at a local spa centre and became romantically involved with a man who would eventually betray her in the most horrific way.

Accused: Mutaq (alias Sunil Yadav)

The man who gained Pooja's trust introduced himself under the false identity of Sunil Yadav. His real name is Mutaq, a cab driver from Sitarganj, Uttarakhand. The relationship began in 2022 when they met in Khatima, Uttarakhand. Bonding over shared regional roots, the two moved to Gurugram and lived together in a live-in relationship for nearly 18 months.

According to police, Mutaq posed as a Hindu to win Pooja’s confidence and later allegedly coerced her into religious conversion, say the police, adding that in 2022, they conducted a ceremonial marriage under false pretenses.

Betrayal

In November 2024, Mutaq secretly married another woman in Kichha, Uttarakhand, without informing Pooja. Upon discovering the betrayal, Pooja returned to Sitarganj and confronted him. She filed a police complaint at the Sitarganj police station, accusing him of identity fraud and forced religious conversion. The case gained attention, but tragically, justice came too late.

Murder

On the night of November 16, 2024, Mutaq convinced Pooja to accompany him to his sister’s home in Ilamnagar. Later that night, under the pretense of a walk, he took her to the remote Nadanna canal near Punjabagh, where he beheaded her with a sharp weapon, separated her body, and stuffed the dismembered parts into sacks. Her torso was wrapped in a bedsheet; the head was packed separately with mud and stones before both were dumped into the canal.

Disappearance and Investigation

When Pooja did not return, her sister, Mila Biswas, filed a missing person complaint at Sector 5 Police Station, Gurugram, on December 19, 2024. By then, Mutaq had gone underground, frequently crossing into Nepal to evade arrest. His phone signals were last traced near the Indo-Nepal border.

The Haryana Police, with assistance from Uttarakhand’s Khatima Police, apprehended the suspect in April 2025. Under interrogation, he confessed to the murder and led authorities to the canal, where they recovered Pooja’s decomposed torso. As of date, the head remains missing.

Financial Exploitation

In addition to emotional and physical abuse, Pooja was financially exploited. She purchased a residential plot in Gaurikheda, Sitarganj, in Mutaq’s name using her savings. She also gifted him gold jewellery and a motorcycle.

Police Statements & Charges

Khatima Police Station chief Inspector Manohar Singh Dasouni confirmed that the murder was premeditated. “The accused was unwilling to marry her formally after his second secret marriage. When she refused to accept the deception, he eliminated her.”

Authorities are now investigating whether additional individuals were involved in the disposal of the body. Mutaq faces multiple charges, including murder, criminal conspiracy, identity fraud, and religious coercion.