Ghaziabad: A 34-year-old labourer who checked into a hotel in Patel Nagar with his girlfriend allegedly beat her to death and then spent the night sleeping beside her body before calling police on Sunday morning.
The accused, Praveen Kumar, a resident of Seva Nagar in Nandgram, contacted the emergency helpline around 7am, claiming his partner, Aarti, was unwell. When police arrived at the hotel, they found Aarti dead in the room. Kumar was taken into custody after the post-mortem confirmed that she died due to “shock and haemorrhage caused by ante-mortem injuries”.
According to DCP (City) Dhawal Jaiswal, the autopsy revealed multiple rib fractures, ruptured lungs and liver, and extensive internal bleeding in the chest and abdomen, indicating a brutal assault.
Investigators said Aarti was a widow who lived with her 16-year-old son, Dakshya, in Ghaziabad. Kumar was known to the family and had been a friend of her late husband, Rohit Kumar.
ACP Upasana Pandey said Kumar told police he had been in a relationship with Aarti for about a year and a half, though they had known each other since 2022. On Saturday evening, the two checked into Hotel New Royal King around 10pm, ordered food and consumed alcohol in room number 207.
Police said an argument broke out later in the night after Kumar suspected Aarti of being in touch with another man. The quarrel escalated into violence. During questioning, Kumar claimed Aarti slapped him, after which he began assaulting her with his fists and elbows. He alleged she scratched his face while trying to defend herself, which further angered him. Investigators said Kumar admitted to repeatedly striking her on both sides of her ribs.
The assault reportedly occurred around midnight. Aarti lost consciousness and collapsed on the bed. Kumar told police he tried to wake her but got no response, after which he remained in the room and later fell asleep beside her.
On Sunday morning, when he again failed to rouse her, Kumar allegedly attempted to leave the hotel without informing staff. Employees stopped him at the gate, where he claimed his partner was unwell and that he was going to buy medicine. Staff then checked the room, found the woman unresponsive, and asked him to call the police.
Officers said Kumar initially claimed he could not recall the events as both were intoxicated. However, the autopsy findings contradicted this version. “There were no visible external injuries, but the internal damage was extensive. It appears the accused believed the injuries would not be detected,” an officer said.
An FIR has been registered against Kumar under BNS Section 103 (murder). Police have seized forensic evidence from the hotel room and collected CCTV footage from the premises. Further forensic reports are awaited.
