By Sagaya Fernando | December 10, 2025
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: The state capital was jolted on Monday December 8 after a 33-year-old engineer, Surya Pratap Singh, was found murdered inside his home in Green City, Salarjung village, under the BBD police station limits. His live-in partner, Ratna Devi, 46, called the police after spending nearly 10 hours inside the house with his body and confessed to killing him.
Police have arrested Ratna and detained her two daughters, aged 17 and 15, who were present during the killing and allegedly helped restrain the victim.
The Murder and Confession
According to investigators, the fatal confrontation occurred around 11 pm on Sunday December 7 after a heated argument. Ratna allegedly attacked Surya with a kitchen knife and slit his throat, while her daughters held him down. After the assault, the trio moved to a separate room and stayed there through the night, leaving the body in the adjacent bedroom.
Around 9 am Monday, Ratna dialed the police control room and said: “I have killed my partner.”
A police team and the village pradhan reached the house and found Surya lying in a pool of blood. The weapon was later recovered by a forensic team.
Allegations of Abuse, Confinement and Surveillance
Disturbing details emerged during interrogation. Ratna told police that Surya had kept her and her daughters under strict surveillance for months. Investigators said he had installed three CCTV cameras inside the house, monitoring them constantly through his phone.
The daughters were allegedly subjected to severe restrictions, barred from using social media or watching videos. The elder daughter was reportedly pressured to quit her studies and was only recently allowed to resume Class 12 after repeated arguments.
Police say Surya’s alleged behaviour towards the elder daughter was a key flashpoint. Ratna accused him of “inappropriate touching” and repeated attempts to molest her.
On the night of the murder, Surya allegedly confronted the 17-year-old over a male friend’s photo on her phone, dragged her into a room, and assaulted her—leading to a violent retaliation by Ratna and her daughters.
A Decade-Long Relationship With Deepening Fault Lines
Surya, originally from Deoria, worked as an executive engineer with a private appliances company. He had known Ratna since 2012, when he began tutoring her daughters in Jankipuram. Over time, the two developed a relationship despite opposition from both families. Ratna’s husband had died in 2014 due to alcoholism, and Surya had supported the family financially.
The couple moved to the Salarjung house around two years ago. While police say Surya purchased the plot, Ratna claimed she financed the house construction using money received after her husband’s death. This mixed ownership claim became a frequent cause of arguments.
According to neighbours, the couple fought “almost every other day,” and loud quarrels were heard on Sunday night as well.
Victim’s Family Alleges Conspiracy
Surya’s father, Narendra Singh, has accused Ratna and her daughters of manipulating his son and ultimately murdering him to seize his assets. He said the family was unaware of Surya’s live-in relationship and had even begun looking for a bride for him.
He recounted having spoken to Surya on Sunday afternoon, when his son appeared normal and had transferred money for bike repairs.
Narendra has filed an FIR accusing Ratna and her daughters of premeditated murder motivated by property takeover.
Police Action
DCP East Shashank Singh confirmed that Ratna has been arrested and her daughters taken into protective custody.
“The accused has confessed to the murder. The knife has been seized. All angles—including abuse, property disputes, and family allegations—are being investigated,” he said.
A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the scene. Police say further analysis will determine whether the killing was an impulsive act of retaliation or part of a larger conspiracy.
Comments
Post a Comment