Ghaziabad woman goes to collect rent from tenants, found dead in suitcase

GHAZIABAD: A 33-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her tenants on Wednesday night after she went to collect pending rent at a housing society in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The victim, identified as Deepashikha Sharma, lived with her husband Umesh Sharma in Aura Chimera Society at Rajnagar Extension. She owned a second flat in the same society, which had been rented out.

Police said Deepashikha left her home around evening to visit the rented flat and ask for overdue dues from the tenants — identified as Ajay Gupta and Aakriti Gupta.

When she did not return home until late night, her domestic help grew concerned.




"Her maid sensed something was wrong and went to check on the second flat," a senior officer said. Upon entering the apartment, the maid allegedly found Deepashikha’s body stuffed inside a red suitcase hidden under a bed. She immediately alerted the police.


Officials received information at Nandgram police station around 11.15pm, routed through a Police Response Vehicle (PRV). Officers arrived at the spot and took control of the apartment.

The body was recovered, sealed and sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause and time of death.

Police said the flat had been rented out to Ajay and Aakriti earlier this year. Both have been detained for questioning.

"Based on a written complaint submitted by the victim’s family members, a case has been registered and further legal proceedings are underway,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nandgram Upasana Pandey said.

Investigators are examining CCTV footage, call records and financial disputes between the two parties to determine motive, preliminary accounts suggest.

The murder has shocked the gated community, where police teams continued searches and questioning of neighbours through Thursday.

Forensic teams inspected the apartment and collected evidence, including the suitcase in which the body had been found.

Police have not yet disclosed whether weapons were recovered from the flat or details of injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.