GHAZIABAD: Shashank Kanthariya thought his wife was leaving home every morning to go to the gym. But police suspect that the routine became part of a conspiracy to kill him after he discovered her alleged affair with her gym trainer and decided to move out of the city.On Monday morning, while the 35-year-old Delhi government employee was asleep beside his young daughter at their home in Vasundhara, the trainer allegedly entered the house through an unlocked door and stabbed him repeatedly.Kanthariya, a senior accountant with the Delhi government, was taken to a nearby hospital after the attack and is currently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). His daughter, who was sleeping beside him, woke up during the assault and began crying, alerting neighbours. The child escaped without injuries.Police arrested Kanthariya’s wife, Priya (32), and her suspected lover, Pratap Singh (30), a gym trainer, on Tuesday. Both were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.
Affair came to light in September
According to ACP (Indirapuram) Suryabali Maurya, Singh began working at the gym Priya frequented in Vasundhara in January this year. He became her trainer, and the two allegedly entered into a relationship the following month.The relationship continued until Kanthariya learnt about the alleged affair towards the end of September. He confronted Priya and asked her to end the relationship. He also told her to either change gyms or stop attending the one where Singh worked.Police suspect that the dispute escalated when Kanthariya decided to move out of their home and began looking for a house in Delhi. Priya allegedly opposed the plan, while Kanthariya intended to finalise a property on Sunday.Investigators suspect that Priya informed Singh about her husband’s plans and that the two subsequently conspired to kill him.
Wife allegedly left door unlocked
Police said Priya routinely left home around 5am to visit the gym, leaving the front door unlocked while her husband and daughter were asleep. On Monday morning, she allegedly followed the same routine, giving Singh an opportunity to enter the house.Singh allegedly arrived armed with two knives and attacked Kanthariya while he was sleeping. The victim woke up during the assault and raised an alarm, while his daughter began crying. The noise alerted neighbours, who rushed to the house as the attacker fled.ACP Maurya said Singh took advantage of Priya’s departure to enter the flat and attack her husband. Police suspect the attack was part of the plan the two had allegedly worked out.
Society guards chased accused
After fleeing the house, Singh was spotted by a resident of the society, MT Joshi, who noticed blood on his hands and attempted to catch him. Singh allegedly pushed Joshi aside and continued running, managing to get past the security guards.The guards then chased him on a motorcycle, caught him and handed him over to police. Two knives were recovered from his possession, police said.Meanwhile, neighbours rushed the injured Kanthariya to a nearby hospital. He remains in the ICU, while his daughter was unharmed.
Brother’s complaint leads to FIR
Kanthariya’s brother, Ritesh, filed a police complaint following the attack. An FIR was subsequently registered against Priya and Singh under sections 109 (attempt to murder), 333 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Police arrested both accused on Tuesday and produced them before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody.Kanthariya and Priya married in 2021 and have a young daughter. Police said Priya had been married once before her marriage to Kanthariya.