Kanpur Woman Murder Case: Hospital Manager, Nephew and Security Guard Arrested; DNA Test to Confirm Victim’s Identity

Kanpur: A disturbing murder investigation spanning multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh has taken a significant turn with the arrest of three individuals, including a private hospital manager, in connection with the alleged abduction and killing of a 21-year-old woman who had earlier accused him of sexually exploiting her under the false promise of marriage.

The case began nearly two weeks ago when the young woman lodged a complaint against Devkant Uttam, a manager at a private hospital in Unnao.

In her complaint, she alleged that Uttam had developed a physical relationship with her by assuring her that he would marry her.

The accusation triggered a police inquiry, but within days, the woman mysteriously disappeared, setting off a chain of events that would eventually lead investigators to a suspected murder case.

Just four days after the complaint was filed, an unidentified female body was discovered in an agricultural field in Bulandshahr, nearly 400 kilometres away from Kanpur.

At the time, authorities were unable to establish the identity of the deceased. Following standard procedures applicable to unidentified bodies, the remains were cremated after the completion of the initial legal formalities.

As the investigation progressed, Kanpur Police began suspecting that the unidentified body could be that of the missing complainant.

Their suspicion strengthened after the victim’s mother identified several personal belongings recovered with the remains, including a nose pin and a kalawa (a sacred thread traditionally worn on the wrist).

Investigators, however, have emphasised that scientific confirmation is still required. Since the body has already been cremated, police are planning to conduct a DNA examination using available biological evidence to establish the deceased woman’s identity conclusively.

On Thursday, police arrested three accused persons in connection with the case.

Those taken into custody include Devkant Uttam (40), the hospital manager against whom the woman had initially filed the complaint; his nephew, Vivek Patel (30); and Ajeet Singh (30), a security guard employed at the same hospital.

All three accused are residents of Unnao district.

According to investigators, the victim lived with her mother in a rented accommodation in Kanpur and was preparing for competitive examinations.

Police said she first came into contact with Uttam during a medical consultation at the hospital last year.

Over time, they remained in touch, eventually leading to the circumstances that formed the basis of her complaint against him.

Authorities stated that the woman went missing on May 21, shortly after initiating legal action against Uttam. Investigators now believe that the accused conspired to eliminate her to avoid the consequences of the complaint.

Police allege that she was abducted in Kanpur, murdered, and her body transported to Bulandshahr in an attempt to conceal both her identity and the crime itself.

During interrogation, police said Devkant Uttam claimed that the woman had been pressuring him to marry her, a proposal he allegedly rejected.

According to investigators, he further stated that the complaint filed against him became a source of concern, prompting him to devise a plan to remove what he viewed as a threat to his personal and professional life.

The disappearance officially came to the attention of police on May 24, when the victim’s mother filed a kidnapping complaint.

In her statement, she directly accused Uttam, Vivek, and their associates of abducting her daughter and expressed fears that she might have been murdered.

At around the same time, investigators encountered another suspicious development. Vivek Patel filed a separate complaint in Unnao, alleging that unknown assailants had shot him in the abdomen.

Police, however, found certain aspects of his claim questionable and kept him under observation while he underwent treatment at a hospital. Once discharged, he was subjected to extensive questioning.

According to police officials, Vivek eventually admitted his involvement in the crime and provided investigators with details of the alleged conspiracy.

During interrogation, he reportedly disclosed that on May 21, acting on instructions from Devkant Uttam, he contacted the victim and persuaded her to meet him at a designated location in Kanpur.

Police allege that when the woman arrived, she was asked to enter a vehicle where Uttam was already waiting.

Investigators claim that Uttam then strangled her inside the vehicle, resulting in her death. Following the killing,

Vivek allegedly drove the car to the hospital premises, where Uttam got out, and security guard Ajeet Singh joined the journey.

The two men are then believed to have travelled to Bulandshahr carrying the victim’s body.

Investigators allege that they dumped the remains in an isolated field before returning, hoping that the body would remain unidentified and that the trail would eventually go cold.

Officials said that Bulandshahr Police recovered the body on May 23. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to identify the deceased woman at the time.

With no claimants coming forward and no immediate leads available, the body was cremated in accordance with legal procedures governing unidentified remains.

The investigation took a crucial turn on June 2, when a team from Kanpur Police travelled to Bulandshahr along with the victim’s mother.

During the visit, she identified several items recovered from the body, including the nose pin and sacred thread, which she said belonged to her daughter.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Deependra Nath Chaudhary confirmed that while the identification made by the mother has provided investigators with a strong lead, scientific verification remains necessary.

Authorities are therefore proceeding with DNA testing to establish the victim’s identity beyond doubt.

Meanwhile, investigators have uncovered what they believe is an attempt by Vivek Patel to mislead law enforcement.

Addressing the question of who shot Vivek, police now claim that he inflicted the gunshot wound on himself.

According to investigators, the act was allegedly staged to fabricate a separate criminal case and falsely implicate another individual, while simultaneously diverting attention away from the murder investigation.

With three suspects now in custody and forensic procedures underway, police believe they have largely reconstructed the sequence of events leading to the young woman’s disappearance and suspected murder.

However, officials maintain that the investigation remains active, and further evidence is being collected to strengthen the prosecution’s case before the matter proceeds to trial.