Instagram To Murder! Man Strangles Live-In Partner and Takes Selfie with Her Body

In a chilling case that highlights the dark side of modern relationships, a 26-year-old Kanpur man, Suraj Kumar Uttam, strangled his 20-year-old live-in partner, Akanksha (also known as Mahi), after a heated argument fueled by suspicions of infidelity. The couple had initially connected and fallen in love via Instagram, living together in Kanpur.

On July 21, 2025, the lovers had a violent confrontation after Akanksha demanded Suraj marry her. The fight escalated, and Suraj strangled her to death. Afterwards, Suraj contacted his friend Ashish Kumar, who arrived to help him conceal the crime. The two stuffed Akanksha’s body into a black suitcase and transported it roughly 100 kilometers from Kanpur to Banda district on a motorcycle.

Disturbingly, Suraj took a selfie with the suitcase containing Akanksha’s body at the Yamuna riverbank and posted the image as his WhatsApp status before disposing of the body into the river. To cover up the murder, Suraj used Akanksha's phone to send messages claiming she had left for Lucknow to work at another hotel. Her mother had reported Akanksha missing on August 8, 2025, after failing to reach her since late July.

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Kanpur police arrested Suraj and Ashish based on call records, location details, and Suraj’s confession. The authorities have launched a search for the body and suitcase in the Yamuna river. Investigators revealed that Suraj had influenced Akanksha’s decisions on moving homes and changing jobs, controlling aspects of her life.

This case starkly exposes how jealousy, mistrust, and the pressures of relationships played out dangerously through social media interaction.

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