Accident that killed 2 was planned murder, say cops

Indore: A road accident involving an SUV and a hatchback that occurred in Mundi police station area of Khandwa on Thursday, in which two persons were killed, has turned out to be a case of murder, the police said on Saturday.During investigation, the police found that driver of the SUV, Lavkush Rathore, had plotted to eliminate the entire family travelling in the hatchback. The reason, they said, was that he was having an affair with his maternal sister-in-law, Sarika, who ironically was also travelling in the hatchback and was critically injured.According to SP Manoj Kumar Rai, a forensic inspection of the crash site revealed no tyre skid marks on the road. This suggested that the speeding SUV did not attempt to brake, indicating a deliberate collision. Upon discovering that Lavkush was a close relative of the victims, the police shifted focus of investigation towards murder.The police said that Lavkush, a resident of Sanawad in Khargone and a father of two, had been in a relationship with Sarika (30), for 12 years. When the family discovered the affair, they opposed it and arranged Sarika's marriage, scheduled for May 5. Both Lavkush and Sarika were reportedly against this alliance.Determined to stop the marriage, Lavkush decided to eliminate the family. On Thursday, while the family was reportedly on their way to the police station to lodge a complaint against him, Lavkush rammed his vehicle into their car three times, eventually pushing it into a ditch.Call records revealed that Sarika and Lavkush spoke nearly 100 times a day, including on the day of the incident. Mundi police have arrested Lavkush and registered a case of murder and attempted murder against him.