A court in Meerut sentenced a woman and her lover to death on Friday, for strangling her husband to death and placing a live, defanged snake beside his body in an elaborate attempt to disguise the murder as a fatal snakebite.
Akbarpur Sadat Murder Investigation and the Fake Snakebite Scene
Amit Kashyap, also known as Mikky Kashyap, was found dead on a cot at his home in Akbarpur Sadat village on April 13, 2025, with a live snake beside his body. His family initially suspected that he had died of a snakebite, prompting them to suspect the reptile.
Suspicion quickly shifted when Amit’s wife, Ravita, strongly objected to a post-mortem examination and behaved aggressively. The autopsy established that no venom was present in his system. Instead, the examination revealed injury marks on his neck and nose, and that both his hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage had been fractured, establishing that he had died of asphyxia due to strangulation.
Call Detail Records and the 1,000 Rupee Snake Purchase
Investigators examined mobile phone records that exposed an intense communication pattern between Ravita and Amardeep. Call detail records showed the two spoke 51 times within 24 hours of the killing, and more than 500 calls overall through a SIM card registered to a resident of Jagriti Vihar who testified he neither used the number nor knew either convict.
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: Meerut court has sentenced Ravita, wife of Amit Kashyap, and her lover, Amardeep, to death for his murder. ADJ-12 Judge Jaiveer Singh Nagar pronounced the verdict. The prosecution alleged that Amit was strangled and a snake was placed near his body to make… pic.twitter.com/np1UTRsR4g
Under police interrogation, Ravita confessed to an illicit affair with Amardeep and admitted they conspired to eliminate Amit. The prosecution established that the pair purchased the reptile for 1,000 rupees from snake charmers in Mohammadpur village within the Mawana area under the pretext that it was needed for a religious ritual.
Trial Timeline and the Death Sentence Verdict
Following an extensive prosecution led by government counsel Farzana Masood and supported by the testimonies of more than 12 witnesses — including the victim’s brothers, investigating officers, and the doctor who performed the autopsy — Additional District and Sessions Judge Jaiveer Singh Nagar convicted Ravita and Amardeep of murder and destruction of evidence on October 7.
The legal proceedings spanned 551 days across 87 hearings before the court delivered its capital punishment ruling on Friday. While sentencing the pair, the judge invoked traditional ideals, stating that Ravita had violated the principles associated with Savitri through her actions. The court also ordered that the children’s education and other needs be taken care of with dignity.
Ravita has violated the ideals of Savitri through her actions. The honourable court has sentenced the accused to death. An order has also been issued to ensure that her children’s education and other needs are taken care of with dignity.
Farzana Masood, Government Counsel
Family Grief and Unresolved Legal Challenges Ahead
Relatives of the victim voiced profound anguish throughout the hearings. Defense counsel and prosecutors presented final statements via video conferencing from Meerut jail, where the convicts appeared.
Additional District Government Counsel Farzana noted that mobile phone records alongside the autopsy findings served as core pillars of evidence during the proceedings. Both Ravita and Amardeep participated in the court sessions through video links from prison facilities.