A 40-year-old man has been detained for allegedly beating his wife to death and hiding her body in an iron trunk after she refused to give him money for liquor in Rajasthan, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on July 18 and came to light four days later after a foul smell began coming from the locked trunk inside the house, police said. The body has been kept in the mortuary and further investigation is underway.

Station House Officer Ram Singh Yadav said the accused, Krishna Kumar Jat, had a dispute with his wife Sulochana, 34, on Saturday over money for alcohol. "When the woman refused to give money, the accused allegedly beat her brutally, leading to her death," he said.

Police said the accused then tied the woman's hands, placed the body in an iron trunk inside the house and locked it to hide the crime. After a few days, when a foul smell started emanating, the accused informed an acquaintance, which eventually led to the police being alerted.

"The body was found inside a locked trunk and has been kept in the mortuary. The accused has been detained and is being questioned," Yadav said. Police said the couple's 16-year-old son was not at home at the time of the incident. When he returned, the accused allegedly misled him by saying that his mother had gone somewhere.

Police said the accused has confessed to the crime during questioning, but the exact manner of the killing and the weapon used are yet to be established. "The exact cause of death will be confirmed after post-mortem and forensic reports," Yadav said. The incident took place in Agwana Khurd village under Surajgarh police station limits in Jhunjhunu district. The couple had married in 2009.

Police said the case centres on an argument over money for liquor, after which the woman was allegedly killed, her body hidden in a trunk, and the matter came to light only after the smell from the locked box drew attention to the crime.

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Published By:

India Today Web Desk

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 21:54 IST