“Mother Mixed Something in Father’s Water”: Life Imprisonment for Wife and Lover on Testimony of 7-Year-Old Daughter

Kanpur: In a chilling case that shocked Uttar Pradesh, a court has sentenced a woman and her lover to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband, largely based on the testimony of the couple’s seven-year-old daughter. The victim, Prateek Sharma, a medical store owner from Kanpur, was poisoned and killed at a hotel in Lucknow two years ago.

Delivering the verdict, the court found Prateek’s wife Neha and her lover Ayush Sharma guilty of murder. The most crucial evidence in the case came from Prateek and Neha’s young daughter, who bravely testified before the court. She told the judge that her mother, along with “uncle,” had mixed something into her father’s water. After drinking it, her father fell asleep and his snoring suddenly stopped.

Investigations revealed that Neha and Ayush had mixed poison into alcohol and water and made Prateek consume it, leading to his death.

Planned Murder During Family Trip

Prateek Sharma, a resident of Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur, was married to Neha, who hails from Ayodhya, in 2017. The couple had two children—a daughter and a son. On March 6, 2024, Neha, Prateek, their children, and Ayush Sharma traveled to Lucknow together. However, on March 12, Neha returned to Kanpur only with the children.

When questioned by family members, she claimed that their car had broken down and that Prateek would return later. On March 16, Neha left home under the pretext of buying medicines, taking the children along, and did not return—raising serious suspicion.

Lover’s Entry Into the Family

Prateek’s father, Puneet Sharma, told the court that his son ran a medical store in Govind Nagar. Ayush Sharma, who worked with hospital patients, used to bring prescriptions to Prateek’s shop and earn commissions. Over time, Ayush developed close ties with the family and began frequently visiting their home, which later turned into an illicit relationship with Neha.

Child Witness Reveals the Truth

During her testimony, the daughter told the court that she had witnessed the incident while hiding under a blanket on the night of the murder. She further stated that after Prateek’s death, her mother threatened her and instructed her to tell everyone that the car had broken down and that her father would return after four days. The child also said she was warned of dire consequences if she spoke the truth.

Justice After Two Years

As the verdict was pronounced, Prateek’s father broke down in tears, saying the court had delivered justice to his son. “Now my son’s soul will find peace,” he said with a choked voice.

The case stands as a grim reminder of betrayal within relationships and also highlights the courage of a child whose testimony played a decisive role in securing justice.