The murder of a temple priest in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has been solved by the police. The investigation pointed towards an illicit relationship as the motive. The priest, Jageshwar Pathak, was found to have been involved with a married woman. Her husband was identified as the perpetrator. The police arrested the husband and four others linked to the crime, including a minor. The priest was summoned under the pretense of conducting a religious ceremony and was then fatally attacked with a suspension pipe. The crime unfolded on August 31st. The priest’s lifeless body was discovered at the Path Baba temple complex in the morning, in the Takhatpur police station jurisdiction, with severe head injuries. The police, along with the dog squad and FSL team, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Bilaspur SSP Rajnesh Singh also arrived at the location. The police initiated an investigation, interviewing family members and acquaintances, to uncover the details. The probe revealed the priest’s affair with a woman, leading to the detention of several suspects and ultimately, the resolution of the case. The police apprehended Suresh, Hemkumar, Dhanraj, Mukesh and a minor.
Within 24 hours, the police apprehended the suspects, easing the public’s concern. ASP Archana Jha, SDOP Kota, the Takhatpur police station team, and the ACCU team were involved in the investigation. The investigation disclosed that Suresh’s wife was involved in an affair with the deceased priest. The illicit relationship began when Suresh was farming near the temple. The husband was driven by the priest’s affair with his wife. The police stated that Suresh and his wife had divorced socially six months earlier. Suresh, motivated by vengeance, plotted the murder on Saturday night. He and his accomplices lured the priest by using the pretense of a motorcycle ritual. They attacked the priest with a brick and a suspension pipe, resulting in his death before fleeing. The police have arrested five individuals, including a minor, after a thorough investigation. The case is still ongoing.