‘I deserve better, tum kaale ho’: Woman, lover conspire to get husband killed in Madhya Pradesh

The woman was in a relationship with Kamlesh Purohit, and the two allegedly conspired to kill her husband Dev Krishna, seeing him as an obstacle.

Published on: Apr 10, 2026, 13:29:06 IST

Written by Shivya Kanojia

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A 28-year-old man was found stabbed to death at his home in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district earlier this week, with police later uncovering an alleged murder conspiracy involving his wife and her lover. The case, initially reported as a robbery, was cracked within 36 hours, officials said on Thursday.

Woman, lover conspire to get husband killed in Madhya Pradesh. (PTI/representative )

The victim, Dev Krishna Purohit, was killed on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday at his residence in Gondikheda Charan village, around 60 km from the district headquarters, news agency PTI reported.

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Soon after the incident, his wife, Priyanka Purohit (25), approached police claiming that unidentified assailants had broken into their house, attacked her husband with a sharp weapon while holding her captive in another room, and escaped with valuables.

However, police began to suspect foul play after noticing inconsistencies in her account.

Investigation reveals alleged conspiracy

Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi said that further investigation pointed towards a planned killing. Priyanka, who had been married to Dev Krishna since she was around 15, had reportedly been unwilling to live with him after moving to her matrimonial home, leading to frequent disputes.

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Police said she was in a relationship with a 32-year-old man, Kamlesh Purohit, a resident of Rajgarh. According to police, the two allegedly conspired to remove Dev Krishna, whom they saw as an obstacle.

The plan, police said, involved hiring a contract killer identified as Surendra for ₹1 lakh to carry out the murder.

Family alleges troubled marriage

Family members of the deceased said the marriage had been strained for a long time, NDTV reported. His sister, Jyoti, reportedly alleged that Priyanka would often insult Dev Krishna saying, "You are dark-skinned... you don't deserve me... I deserve someone better." "Tum kaale ho (You are dark-skinned), you don't deserve me."

Technical evidence exposes links

Technical evidence, including mobile phone data, played a key role in unravelling the case. Call records and other inputs established contact between Priyanka and Kamlesh around the time of the murder, raising further suspicion, NDTV reported.

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After questioning, Priyanka eventually confessed to her role in the conspiracy, police said.

Following the confession, police arrested Priyanka and Kamlesh. Efforts are currently underway to trace and arrest the alleged contract killer, Surendra, who remains absconding.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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