A man’s death, at first considered a road accident, has now turned into a murder investigation in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district.
The victim’s wife Maya Devi and her alleged lover Niyaz Ahmed have been arrested for the killing of e-rickshaw driver Harishchandra Agrahari.
Harishchandra, a resident of Kapiyava village of the Itwa region, was found dead in the Budhi Rapti River near Muhchorwa Ghat on August 30, 2026.
His e-rickshaw was found on a slope near the site and investigators believe it was done to make the incident look like an accident or road mishap.
The alleged murder plot was unearthed following an investigation by a joint team of the Dhebarua police and district Special Operations Group (SOG).
The operation was led by Siddharthnagar SSP Dr Abhishek Mahajan.
Maya Devi had a long-term relationship with Niyaz Ahmed, also from the village, police said. Police suspect she persuaded Niyaz to kill her husband.
Investigators also claimed that Niyaz brought two other men, Irshad and Abdullah, into the plan. The police investigation is looking into the alleged roles of all those involved in the murder and the events that followed.
According to the police version, Harishchandra was lured to the secluded Muhchorwa Ghat. There he was attacked and stabbed to death. His body was thrown into the Budhi Rapti River.
Wife Maya and lover Niyaz held for murder of a man, staging the death as accident in UP's Siddharthnagar.
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) September 10, 2026
Harishchandra Agrahari, an e-rickshaw driver from Kapiyava in Itwa, was found dead in the Budhi Rapti River near Muhchorwa Ghat on August 30, 2026.
His e-rickshaw was… pic.twitter.com/fdhIRpxjOb
However, the positioning of the e-rickshaw did raise some questions about whether or not the death was an accident.
The discovery of the body and of the vehicle was investigated before the discovery of evidence of a planned killing.
The case shows how investigators can find attempts to disguise a crime as an accident by analyzing the scene, the victim’s movements and other evidence from the crime scene.
What was initially seen as a tragic incident near the river is now being investigated as a conspiracy involving multiple people.
Police have arrested Maya Devi and Niyaz Ahmed in connection with the case, and Irshad and Abdullah are also being investigated.
More details will come out as investigators continue to probe the circumstances behind Harishchandra’s death.
The case has attracted attention in Siddharthnagar because investigators there alleged that the killing was staged.
Now the investigation will take place for the sequence of events, motive and roles of the accused persons.
