Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) has granted bail to an accused in the sensational 2024 murder of Mohini Dubey, wife of retired IAS officer Devendranath Dubey. The case, which began as a suspected robbery and escalated into one of the city’s most closely followed investigations, exposed both the vulnerabilities of urban households and the complexities of circumstantial evidence in criminal trials.
The Murder That Shook Lucknow
On May 25, 2024, 58-year-old Mohini Dubey was found dead inside her Indiranagar residence, strangled with a dupatta. She was alone at home that morning while her husband, Devendranath Dubey, a retired IAS officer and member of the Kanyakubj College management committee, was away golfing.
When Dubey returned he found the front door ajar and his wife lying in the hallway between the kitchen and bathroom. The house was in disarray; cash, jewelry, and a DVR containing CCTV footage were missing. Police suspected she was killed while resisting a robbery.
The case drew immediate public attention because of Dubey’s prominence and the shocking nature of the crime. Forensic teams, dog squads, and investigators combed the neighborhood for evidence, but the precision with which certain valuables were taken—and others left behind—raised suspicions of an inside hand.
Investigation and Circumstantial Evidence
Police discovered that two boxes containing valuables were specifically targeted, even as a revolver and related documents were curiously left untouched. Investigators noted that only a handful of people knew about the location of those boxes, heightening the sense of conspiracy.
The case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of co-accused individuals. Prosecutors argued that the killing was linked to a calculated robbery rather than a random act of violence.
Defence lawyers, however, insisted that their client had been falsely implicated on the basis of another accused’s statement. They highlighted the lack of direct evidence and stressed that the accused had no prior criminal record.
Bail and the Road Ahead
On August 29, 2025, after over a year in custody, the Lucknow court ordered the release of one of the accused. Appearing on behalf of the applicant, Advocate Ayush Pratap Singh, Allahabad High Court, argued that the case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, that his client had no previous criminal history, and that he had already spent over a year in jail since May 2024.
The Court observed that key witnesses had already been examined, the prosecution’s case was built on circumstantial evidence, and there was no likelihood of tampering with remaining testimony. On these considerations, the accused was granted bail upon furnishing a personal bond and two sureties.
“We respect the court’s order and believe that justice has been served at this stage. The decision reflects the court’s careful consideration of the evidence placed before it.” , says Advocate Ayush Pratap Singh.
The case remains under trial.