A shocking murder case has come to light from Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, where a woman and her lover have been arrested for killing her husband with the help of a poisonous snake. Police claim the accused tried to make the death look like an accidental snakebite so they could avoid suspicion, claim a ₹20 lakh insurance payout and continue their relationship.
The victim, Atul Panwar, ran Krishna Kids Play School in Hastinapur along with his wife, Damini. The couple had been married since 2019. He was found unconscious on his bed and was taken to a nearby Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him dead.
MEERUT SHOCKER 🚨 School owner Atul Panwar died after being bitten by a krait snake.
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) July 19, 2026
Police allege that his wife, Damini, paid her lover ₹15,000 to get the snake.pic.twitter.com/2CjO8sExtJ
Failed Road Accident Plan Led to Murder Plot
According to Meerut police, the investigation revealed that Damini was involved in a relationship with the school’s driver, Tushar alias Nikki. Officers said the two had first tried to kill Atul by staging a road accident around 20 days before his death. Police claim Tushar deliberately rammed Atul’s motorcycle with a car, but Atul survived with minor injuries because he was wearing a helmet.
Investigators further that after learning the plan had failed, Damini discouraged her husband from filing a police complaint, telling him there was no point since the vehicle’s registration number had not been identified.
When the road accident plan failed, the accused came up with another conspiracy.
According to police, on Thursday night, 16th July, Damini mixed sleeping pills into Atul’s milk before he went to bed. After he fell into a deep sleep, she called Tushar, who arrived at the house along with two snake catchers, Sonu and Uday, carrying a poisonous snake.
Police said that Sonu and Uday released the snake onto Atul’s bed, where it bit him. They then left the snake on the bed to make the death appear to be a natural snakebite. “The accused wanted everyone to believe that Atul died in an accidental snakebite so that no one would suspect murder,” a police officer said.
Insurance money and an affair behind the conspiracy
During questioning, Tushar admitted that he and Damini had been in a relationship for a long time and had conspired to kill Atul.
According to police, the motive was twofold: continuing their relationship and claiming Atul’s ₹20 lakh life insurance policy. Investigators claim Damini and Tushar had promised Sonu and Uday ₹5 lakh from the insurance money in exchange for helping execute the murder. Police further alleged that the two snake catchers had already received ₹15,000 as an advance payment.
Mobile records exposed the plot
Although Atul’s death initially appeared to be the result of a snakebite, investigators became suspicious during the inquiry. Police said they examined mobile phone records and collected other evidence, which eventually uncovered the conspiracy involving Damini, Tushar, Sonu and Uday.
“The evidence pointed towards a carefully planned murder motivated by an extramarital relationship and the victim’s insurance policy,” police said.
All four accused have been arrested, and further investigation into the case is underway.
