Man, 35, found dead in house in Varanasi; third wife, daughter missing

Varanasi: A 35-year-old hotel employee was found dead in his Nepalibagh rented accommodation under mysterious circumstances on Sunday morning. His third wife and their 5-year-old daughter went missing, reportedly escaping through the roof of a house in the neighborhood.DCP Varuna Zone Pramod Kumar said the Shivpur police broke into Vikas Rawat's residence after being alerted by the landlord. Forensic experts and a dog squad were called to the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed a head injury, and the body was sent for post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death. The situation took a dramatic turn as Vikas's first wife, Rita, accused Riya of murdering him, fuelling suspicions of foul play. The Shivpur police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Rita and began investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.The landlord reported hearing a heated argument between Vikas and his third wife, Riya, late Saturday night. On Sunday morning, he found Vikas's body on the floor, with the room open and Riya and her daughter nowhere to be seen. He promptly alerted the deceased's father, Vijay Rawat, and the police.Vijay told the police that his son struggled with liquor addiction and frequently clashed with his first wife Rita. Due to their troubled relationship, Rita along with their three children — the eldest aged 15 — had moved to her in-laws' house in Jaunpur's Nevadhiya area.Vikas had married twice before Riya, and after separating from his first wife, he started living with Riya in Nepalibagh, where they both worked at a hotel. According to Vijay, his son's drinking habit often led to arguments with Riya. Vijay had previously filed a complaint at the Badagaon police station, which led to counselling for the couple, but the quarrels persisted.