Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A man accused of killing his wife in a rented room in Silvassa and concealing her body inside a suitcase was arrested in Varanasi on Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) said. The arrest follows an intelligence-led operation after Silvassa police requested assistance in locating the suspect, officials said.
How the case unfolded
Police in Silvassa registered the murder after the decomposed body of Chhoti Upadhyay was recovered from a suitcase at a rented accommodation in the Tokar Khada area, under Silvassa police station, on August 3, according to the UP STF. Investigators say the woman had been living in the room with her husband, identified as Rishabh Kumar Singh of Nawada district in Bihar.
According to police, Singh allegedly killed Chhoti on June 9, wrapped her body in plastic, placed it inside a suitcase and locked the luggage in the room before fleeing Silvassa. The suitcase was discovered only after the landlord prepared to re-let the premises and opened the room, which led to an information being given to local police.
Arrest in Varanasi after joint intelligence effort
Silvassa Police developed leads that indicated the accused was hiding in Varanasi and nearby areas and formally approached the UP STF for assistance, officials said. The STF’s Varanasi field unit, working with Silvassa police, conducted ground-level intelligence gathering on Singh’s possible movements.
An intelligence input on Monday placed the accused near an industrial estate in Chandpur, Manduadih area of Varanasi. Teams from the UP STF and Silvassa police reached the location and took Singh into custody, the STF said. The arrest location is more than 1,500 km from Silvassa, officials noted.
”A combined STF and Silvassa police operation led to the arrest in Varanasi after credible intelligence placed the suspect in the Manduadih/Chandpur area,” a senior STF official said, according to the agency's statement.
Post-arrest proceedings and interrogation
After being taken into custody, Singh was produced before the chief judicial magistrate’s court, which granted transit remand to the Silvassa police, the UP STF said. During interrogation, Singh reportedly described his relationship with the deceased as a love marriage; the couple had reportedly left their parental homes to marry.
Investigators say disagreements arose because Singh’s family did not accept Chhoti, and that she had repeatedly asked him to take her to his parental home, which the STF said led to frequent disputes between the couple. These details emerged from the accused’s statements to investigators, the STF added.
- Victim: Chhoti Upadhyay (name reported by police)
- Accused: Rishabh Kumar Singh of Nawada, Bihar
- Crime scene: Rented room, Tokar Khada, under Silvassa police station
- Key dates: Alleged killing on 9 June; body recovered on 3 August; arrest in Varanasi on Monday
- Custody: Transit remand granted by chief judicial magistrate’s court
Investigation status and local implications
Silvassa police have taken custody of the accused under transit remand and will continue investigative procedures, including recording further statements, forensic follow-up and legal formalities, the UP STF said. The case has drawn attention locally because it involved a rented tenancy and was discovered only when the landlord reopened the room for re-letting.
Police statements attribute the arrest to coordinated action between the Silvassa local police and the UP STF’s Varanasi unit, underscoring the reliance on inter-jurisdictional intelligence and cooperation in locating suspects who cross state lines. Further legal proceedings and the formal charges will be handled by the Silvassa authorities following the remand period.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recovered body | Found in suitcase at rented room, Tokar Khada |
| Date body found | 3 August |
| Alleged date of killing | 9 June |
| Arrest location | Manduadih/Chandpur area, Varanasi, UP |
| Accused | Rishabh Kumar Singh (Nawada, Bihar) |
Further details on charges, forensics and the development of the criminal case will be released by Silvassa police and the courts as the investigation proceeds, the UP STF statement said.
