Meerut murder: Woman, lover held for killing husband with snake to claim ₹20 lakh insurance
Synopsis
A Meerut woman allegedly drugged her husband, released a poisonous snake on him while he slept, and staged his death as an accidental snakebite — all to claim ₹20 lakh in insurance and continue an affair with the family's school driver. Police cracked the case through phone records after an earlier road accident attempt had already failed.
Key Takeaways
Damini and her alleged lover Tushar alias Nikki were arrested in Meerut on 18 July for the murder of her husband, Atul Panwar .
Panwar was allegedly sedated with sleeping pills in his milk before a poisonous snake was released onto his bed.
The accused attempted to disguise the killing as a natural snakebite to avoid detection.
Motive: claiming a ₹20 lakh insurance payout and eliminating Panwar to continue their relationship.
An earlier attempt to kill Panwar by staging a road accident had reportedly failed.
Mobile phone records and other evidence cracked the case; further investigation is underway.
A woman and her alleged lover have been arrested in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, for the murder of her husband, whom they allegedly killed using a poisonous snake after sedating him — then attempted to disguise the death as an accidental snakebite, police said on 18 July. The accused reportedly hatched the plot to claim a ₹20 lakh insurance payout and continue their extramarital relationship.
How the Murder Was Carried Out
The victim, Atul Panwar, co-ran a play school in Hastinapur with his wife, Damini, whom he married in 2019. According to police, Damini allegedly mixed sleeping pills into Panwar's milk to render him unconscious, after which she released a poisonous snake onto the bed, which bit him. Panwar was rushed to a Community Health Centre on Friday morning and was later confirmed dead.
Initially, the death appeared consistent with a natural snakebite. It was only after investigators scrutinised the surrounding circumstances that the conspiracy began to unravel.
The Accused and Their Alleged Motive
Meerut's Senior Superintendent of Police said the probe revealed that Damini had allegedly been in a relationship with Tushar alias Nikki, the driver at the couple's school. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Abhijit Kumar confirmed the arrests and said mobile phone records and other forensic evidence exposed the plot.
Investigators also found that the accused had earlier attempted to kill Panwar by staging a road accident. When that plan failed, Damini allegedly conspired with Tushar and two others to carry out the snake-based attack. Tushar, who is married, had reportedly been planning to divorce his wife before the murder plot came to light.
How Investigators Cracked the Case
The initial snakebite narrative held until police conducted a deeper examination of the evidence. Mobile phone records connecting Damini and Tushar, combined with witness accounts and forensic details, ultimately exposed the conspiracy, according to police. The prior failed road accident attempt added critical context to the investigation.
This is a case where circumstantial evidence — phone data, witness statements, and the pattern of prior attempts — collectively dismantled what had been staged as a natural death.
Current Status of the Investigation
Both Damini and Tushar alias Nikki have been arrested, police confirmed. Two other alleged co-conspirators are also said to be part of the plot, and further investigation is underway. Police are expected to file a charge sheet detailing the sequence of events, the insurance fraud angle, and the roles of all accused.
Point of View
Then a sedative-and-snake combination designed to mimic a natural death. That investigators broke through a seemingly credible snakebite narrative using phone records underscores how digital forensics is increasingly decisive in rural UP crime cases. The insurance fraud angle also points to a broader pattern of policy-linked domestic homicides that courts and insurers alike are seeing with greater frequency. The involvement of two additional alleged co-conspirators suggests this was not an impulsive act but a structured conspiracy — a detail that will likely shape the charge sheet and sentencing arguments.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Meerut snakebite murder case?
The victim was Atul Panwar , who co-ran a play school in Hastinapur, Meerut, with his wife Damini. He was found dead on his bed after allegedly being sedated and bitten by a poisonous snake released by the accused.
Who has been arrested in connection with the Meerut murder?
Police have arrested Panwar's wife, Damini , and her alleged lover, Tushar alias Nikki , who worked as a driver at the couple's school. Two other alleged co-conspirators are also said to be involved, and the investigation is ongoing.
What was the motive behind the alleged murder?
According to police, the accused plotted to kill Atul Panwar to claim a ₹20 lakh insurance payout and to continue their extramarital relationship without obstruction.
How did police uncover the conspiracy if it was staged as a snakebite?
The death initially appeared to be a natural snakebite. Investigators cracked the case through mobile phone records linking Damini and Tushar, along with other forensic evidence and the discovery of a prior failed attempt to kill Panwar in a staged road accident.
Had the accused tried to kill Atul Panwar before?
Yes, according to police, the accused had earlier attempted to kill Panwar by staging a road accident. When that plan failed, they allegedly devised the snake-based method as a second attempt.
