Lucknow: A shocking revelation has emerged in the murder case of a woman in the Mohanlalganj area of Lucknow. The police have arrested two accused, including the woman’s husband, and have taken a minor into protective custody. Crucial evidence—such as the murder weapon, a blood-stained shirt, broken mobile phones, and shattered glass bangles—has also been recovered.
Incident Details
On the night of May 20, 2025, at around 11:08 PM, police received a report of an alleged accident near Raja Kheda village. Upon reaching the scene, officers found Muskan Bano and her husband Mohammad Asif lying injured. They were rushed to the Mohanlalganj Community Health Centre (CHC), where Muskan was declared dead.
Family’s Allegations and FIR
The following day, Muskan’s maternal grandfather, Ashraf Ali, filed a complaint suspecting foul play by Asif. He informed police that Muskan had married Asif on February 24, 2023, and alleged that she had been murdered by him. Based on the complaint, an FIR was lodged under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police Investigation and Arrests
Given the gravity of the situation, two police teams were formed. Investigations revealed that Muskan’s husband Asif, his nephew Manna alias Aftab, and a minor friend were all part of a cold-blooded murder conspiracy.
On May 23, two of the accused were arrested, and the minor was placed under protective custody.
The Motive Behind the Murder
According to police interrogation, Asif was opposed to having children with Muskan, as he was already married and had children from his first marriage. Muskan, on the other hand, wanted to start a family, which led to frequent arguments. Additionally, Asif suspected Muskan’s character.
Driven by these issues, Asif hatched a plan to eliminate his wife. He offered ₹1 lakh to his nephew Manna in exchange for committing the murder, which Manna accepted. Manna then involved a minor friend to assist in the crime.
Execution of the Murder
On May 20, Asif took Muskan to Unnao on the pretext of seeking medical treatment. There, Manna and the minor purchased a knife. After spending the day together, the trio began heading back to Lucknow.
At around 9:30 PM, on a deserted stretch near Mohanlalganj, Manna deliberately made Muskan fall off the bike. He, Asif, and the minor then fatally stabbed her.

As a few locals passed by on motorcycles, Manna and the minor fled. Asif then tried to make the murder look like an accident or a robbery. He tied Muskan’s body to a scooter and dumped it by the roadside. To cover their tracks, the trio broke their phones and threw them near a canal.
Items Recovered by Police
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1 knife (murder weapon)
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1 blood-stained shirt
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1 receipt (related to the murder plan)
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2 broken mobile phones
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Fragments of Muskan’s glass bangles
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2 motorcycles (Registration numbers: UP32KT8938 and UP32NC6875)
Police say further legal action is underway, and investigations are ongoing.

