In a disturbing incident from Uttar Pradesh, a 50-year-old man from Sambhal has been arrested for allegedly hiring contract killers to murder his own son in a bid to fraudulently claim a ₹2 crore life insurance payout. Police said three others involved in the killing of 22-year-old Aniket Sharma have also been taken into custody.
Aniket’s body was discovered on November 16 near a farmland along a roadside in Moradabad district. Initially, his father Baburam Sharma insisted that his son had died in a road accident and even refused to lodge a complaint. However, the autopsy revealed that the young man had suffered a “head injury due to assault,” prompting police to investigate deeper.
Father Confesses the crime
During questioning, Baburam repeatedly changed his statements and eventually confessed to the crime. Following a complaint filed by Aniket’s uncle, an FIR under BNS Section 103 (murder) was registered in Moradabad.
According to police, Baburam admitted that he handed his son over to hired killers after luring him out of the house. The contract killers were allegedly paid ₹3.5 lakh to eliminate Aniket. They first assaulted him, delivered a fatal blow to his head, and later dumped his body by the roadside. To make it appear like a hit-and-run case, they even ran a car over his body.
SP Moradabad (Rural) Kunwar Akash Singh told press that the total insurance amount was ₹2 crore, but Baburam had been told he would receive only ₹25 lakh, while the rest would allegedly go to Advocate Adesh Kumar from Amroha. Kumar had persuaded Baburam to take the insurance policy in January 2024, naming him as the nominee.
Investigations revealed that the advocate managed the premium payments and paperwork and misled Baburam about the actual insurance amount. He assured him that the claim would be processed easily if Aniket died in an “accident,” leading Baburam to fall for the scheme.
Police also stated that Baburam had a criminal background, had been jailed on multiple occasions, and often struggled financially. This made him vulnerable to the advocate’s proposal, ultimately leading to the tragic conspiracy.
While Baburam and three accomplices are in custody, advocate Adesh Kumar and another accused, Vijaypal, are currently absconding, police confirmed.