On 8th February, Uttar Pradesh police arrested a man named Sunny for murdering 25-year-old Sonali and dumping her body along the Yamuna Expressway in Agra. The police took the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate an image of the deceased woman and used social media to identify her. The case was cracked within 24 hours using cyber surveillance and CCTV analysis. According to the police, the murder was motivated by relationship discord after Sonali decided to end the relationship.
How the case first came to light
The case surfaced on 6th February when villagers grazing goats near milestone 148 of the Yamuna Expressway, close to Saurai village, noticed a blanket lying inside a roadside drain at around 3:30 pm. As they moved closer, a strong stench raised suspicion and they immediately alerted patrolling expressway guards and the local police.
Within half an hour, senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone, the SOG team, the forensic field unit, and the dog squad, reached the spot. The body was retrieved from the drain and sent for post-mortem examination. Despite extensive searches in the surrounding area, no documents or belongings that could establish the woman’s identity were recovered.
Initial forensic findings and early clues
The deceased was wearing a mehndi-coloured salwar suit and anklets. Police noted strangulation marks around her neck, an injury on her cheek consistent with a struggle, and black tape used to tightly seal the blanket in which the body was wrapped.
Police also found markings reading “RS” on her hand and shoulder. There was a name “Sunny” written near her palm. Officers also observed that the woman was wearing makeup, including kohl and lipstick, and a ring on her finger, indicating that she may have been lured under false pretences and was unaware of the impending danger.
Based on the condition of the body and the method of disposal, police suspected that the murder had taken place elsewhere and that the body was transported by a car to the expressway.
CCTV trail and suspected route of disposal
The body was found around one kilometre from the Khandoli toll plaza, close to the Delhi Road, with the Mathura border beginning roughly two kilometres ahead. Investigators examined two possible scenarios.
If the accused approached from Agra, the vehicle would have crossed the toll plaza before dumping the body and fleeing. Alternatively, if coming from Delhi, the accused could have used a cut located about 200 metres before the toll plaza meant for small vehicles, avoided toll cameras altogether, dumped the body, and escaped.
Police examined footage from over 100 CCTV cameras across toll plazas and nearby routes to track suspicious vehicle movements. Over 970 vehicles were marked for investigation.
AI used to establish identity
With no immediate identification, police deployed artificial intelligence tools to reconstruct a clearer facial image of the victim. The AI generated image was circulated across social media platforms and shared with police units in Delhi NCR and Haryana.
The image matched that of Sonali, who was living in Delhi at the time. Further cyber tracking confirmed that she was originally from Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh.
Murder committed in Delhi, body dumped in Agra
Investigators established that Sonali was strangled to death in Delhi. Her body was then wrapped in a blanket, sealed with black tape, transported in a vehicle, and dumped into the drain along the Yamuna Expressway. The name written on her hand played a critical role in narrowing the suspect list and directing the investigation towards her boyfriend.
Accused arrested after manhunt
Sunny was staying in rented accommodation in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area. He had changed residences frequently and went absconding after the incident. Police conducted raids at multiple locations, including his relatives’ houses, before arresting him. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that Sonali wanted to end their relationship and had begun seeing someone else. He was enraged and conspired with his friends to kill her.
Possibility of multiple accused being involved
According to the police, there is a possibility that he did not act alone and at least two associates were involved in the murder. The police are investigating the role of up to six individuals in the matter.
Family informed, legal process underway
Sonali’s family has been informed about the incident. A formal complaint has been submitted, based on which further legal proceedings are underway.
