Ghaziabad man found dead in Ujjain hotel near Mahakal Temple, murder suspected
Synopsis
A Ghaziabad man's decomposed body was found inside a hotel room metres from the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain — three days after he checked in with a friend who quietly paid the bill and vanished a day before the discovery. Police have not ruled out murder and are racing to trace the missing companion.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Kumar , 38 , of New Kotgaon, Ghaziabad , was found dead inside Hotel Temple View , Ujjain, on 4 September .
His body was in a decomposed condition ; hotel staff alerted police after detecting a strong foul smell.
Kumar had checked in with friend Vineet Goyal on 1 September to visit the Mahakal Temple .
Vineet reportedly paid the full hotel bill and left on 3 September without informing anyone — a day before the body was found.
A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has examined the scene; the body has been sent for post-mortem .
Police are scrutinising CCTV footage and have sent teams to trace Vineet Goyal; murder is among the angles being investigated.
The body of Mukesh Kumar, a 38-year-old resident of New Kotgaon in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was discovered inside a hotel room near the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Friday, 4 September, with police investigating the circumstances of his death, including the possibility of murder. The body was found in a decomposed state after hotel staff detected a strong foul odour emanating from the room.
How the Body Was Discovered
Kumar had arrived in Ujjain on 1 September along with his friend Vineet Goyal to visit the Mahakal Temple. The two checked into Hotel Temple View in the Naliya Bakhal area, located opposite the Neelkanth Gate of the temple's Mahakal Lok corridor.
On Friday morning, hotel management alerted the Mahakal Police Station after a strong smell began emanating from Kumar's room. Officers arrived at the scene and found his body inside. Hotel staff were reportedly asked to use a spray to manage the odour. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was subsequently called to examine the site and collect evidence.
Vineet Goyal's Suspicious Departure
According to police, hotel staff told investigators that both men were frequently seen entering and leaving the premises after consuming alcohol during their stay. On 3 September — a day before the body was found — Vineet reportedly settled the entire hotel bill and left without informing anyone.
Mahakal Police Station SHO Gagan Badal said the sudden departure had raised suspicion. 'Vineet's payment of the hotel bill and his departure a day before the body was found are suspicious circumstances. Teams have been sent to trace him, while CCTV footage from the hotel and surrounding areas is being examined,' Badal said.
Investigation Under Way
Police are scrutinising CCTV footage from the hotel and its surroundings to establish the movements of both men and determine whether any third party visited the room. Investigators are also reconstructing the sequence of events between 1 September, when the two arrived, and 3 September, when Vineet left.
SHO Badal stated that the exact cause of death would only be established after the post-mortem examination. 'At present, we are investigating all possible angles, including the possibility of murder,' he added. The body has been sent for autopsy.
What Happens Next
Further details are expected to emerge after the post-mortem and FSL forensic reports are received. Police teams have been dispatched to trace Vineet Goyal, whose whereabouts remain unknown. The case is being treated as a potential murder until the cause of death is medically confirmed.
Point of View
But the window for forensic clarity is already narrowed by the state of decomposition. The Mahakal Temple corridor, one of India's highest-footfall pilgrimage sites, adds a layer of public interest that will pressure investigators to move quickly. Whether this was a dispute, a premeditated act, or something else entirely, the CCTV trail and the post-mortem will be decisive.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was found dead in the Ujjain hotel?
The deceased was identified as Mukesh Kumar, a 38-year-old resident of New Kotgaon in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. He had travelled to Ujjain on 1 September with his friend Vineet Goyal to visit the Mahakal Temple.
Where exactly was the body found?
The body was found inside a room at Hotel Temple View in the Naliya Bakhal area of Ujjain, located opposite the Neelkanth Gate of the Mahakal Temple's Mahakal Lok corridor in Madhya Pradesh.
Why is Vineet Goyal considered suspicious?
Vineet Goyal reportedly paid the entire hotel bill and left the premises on 3 September — a day before the body was discovered — without informing anyone. Police say this sudden departure is a suspicious circumstance and teams have been sent to trace him.
What is the cause of death?
The cause of death has not yet been officially determined. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and a Forensic Science Laboratory team has collected evidence from the scene. Police are investigating all angles, including the possibility of murder.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police are examining CCTV footage from the hotel and surrounding areas to trace the movements of both men. Teams have been deployed to locate Vineet Goyal, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Further details are expected after the autopsy and FSL reports are received.
