Gorakhpur: Cases of fraud in the name of marriage are not new, but a shocking incident from Gorakhpur has exposed a far more sinister and calculated pattern of crime. In this case, a woman allegedly posed as a bride, identified her target through social media, trapped him in a fake marriage, and ultimately murdered him with the help of her lover. The chilling sequence of events highlights not only the brutality of the crime but also the growing misuse of digital platforms to exploit trust.
According to details, the victim, 45-year-old Indra Kumar Tiwari, a resident of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, came in contact with the accused woman, Sahiba Bano alias Khushi Tiwari, through social media. During their initial conversations, she introduced herself as unmarried and expressed her willingness to marry. Gradually, she built trust and convinced him to travel to Gorakhpur.
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On June 3, 2025, when Indra Kumar arrived in Gorakhpur, the accused duo reportedly accommodated him in their rented house, introducing him as a relative. This marked the beginning of a well-planned conspiracy. Two days later, on June 5, the woman and her lover, Kaushal Kumar, took him to a hotel in Kushinagar, where they staged a fake wedding ceremony. The woman even applied vermilion in his hair parting, creating the illusion of a legitimate marriage, which convinced the victim that he had entered a marital relationship.
Soon after the staged wedding, the accused allegedly executed the next phase of their plan. They served him paneer and rice laced with sedatives. Within a short time of consuming the meal, he lost consciousness. Investigators believe that the duo then murdered him and attempted to conceal the evidence.
Preliminary findings suggest that the crime was not impulsive but meticulously planned. The accused had identified the victim in advance, allegedly targeting him based on his financial status and property. It is reported that they came across a social media video in which Indra Kumar spoke about his unmarried status and land holdings. Using this information, they singled him out and orchestrated the entire plot.
Statements from neighbors and the landlord have emerged as crucial pieces of evidence. The accused couple had been living in a rented accommodation in Divyanagar, Ranidiha area of Gorakhpur since March last year. They had introduced themselves as husband and wife, claiming that the man worked as a tailor while the woman was preparing for competitive examinations.
However, their behavior had raised suspicion from the beginning. The landlord reportedly asked for identity documents multiple times, but the accused man avoided providing them. The couple maintained distance from neighbors and would often disappear for days without explanation. When questioned, they cited reasons such as medical visits or travel, further deepening suspicion among locals.
The case has once again brought attention to how social media platforms are increasingly being misused by criminals to identify and trap unsuspecting victims. What begins as a relationship based on trust can quickly turn into financial fraud—or, as seen in this case, even a brutal crime like murder.
Currently, the accused woman Sahiba Bano alias Khushi Tiwari and her lover Kaushal Kumar are in judicial custody, and legal proceedings are underway. The incident serves as a stark warning for individuals who form relationships online without proper verification or caution.
Beyond being a heinous crime, this case raises serious concerns about the fragility of trust in the digital age. It underlines the urgent need for vigilance while interacting with strangers on social media, where appearances can be deceptive and intentions far more dangerous than they seem.
