Racy clips, blackmail and killings: The dark trail behind India’s ‘live-in murders’
Published on: Oct. 30, 2025, 7:52 a.m. | Source: Times of India
The idea of living together once symbolised freedom — a quiet rebellion against rigid social codes. But today, “live-in” is no longer a whisper of modern romance. It has thrown up country’s some of the most chilling incidents of betrayal, violence and death. From Noida to Bengaluru, Delhi to Mumbai, headlines now read like scenes from a psychological thriller. Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel’s recent warning to women — “stay away from live-in relationships, or you might end up chopped into 50 pieces” — was not a metaphor. Let’s first take a look at some of the disturbing cases that have taken place. The grad who knew too much When 21-year-old Amrita Chauhan met Ramkesh Meena during a job interview in Noida, sparks flew instantly. Within months, they were living together in Delhi, recording their affection on camera — racy clips that would later become their undoing. But by September, Amrita’s ex-boyfriend Sumit Kashyap — a gas cylinder distributor — re-entered her life. Their social media romance reignited, while Ramkesh faded into the background. Soon, those private videos became a weapon. Ramkesh allegedly began blackmailing Amrita with the clips, demanding attention she no longer wanted to give. What followed was macabre. Police allege Amrita plotted his murder with Sumit’s help. On October 6, they allegedly tied and gagged Ramkesh before choking him to death. Then, in a calculated cover-up, Amrita — a forensics science graduate — advised Sumit to stage a fire. They poured ghee, oil, and wine on the body, opened a gas cylinder, and ignited it. Flames consumed the room; the crime, they thought, would disappear. But CCTV footage caught them leaving in masks. The fire, initially thought to be an AC blast, revealed a murder planned with chilling precision.
