Agencies & KalimNews, July 10, 2025, Chitrakoot : A spine-chilling incident of premeditated murder and insurance fraud has been uncovered in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh, sending shockwaves through the region. The case, which has now made national headlines, involves a man, Sunil Singh Patel, who faked his own death by burning his close friend alive in a car to claim a staggering Rs. 2 crore life insurance policy. The motive behind this heinous act was to escape mounting debts of Rs. 45 lakh.
The grisly plan, masterminded by Patel in collaboration with his wife, Hema Singh, was carefully executed with a disturbing level of detail. Patel had taken out a massive life insurance policy to secure a financial future amidst his mounting debts. After struggling to repay loans for a beauty parlour business and a harvester, he devised a plan to claim the insurance amount. His scheme involved making it appear as though he had died in a tragic car accident, with his wife playing a pivotal role in the entire act. Patel’s criminal inspiration came from crime series he had watched on YouTube, which led him to hatch a cold-blooded plot to murder an unsuspecting victim.
On June 29, 2025, a burnt car was found near Sikri Aman village under Rajapur police jurisdiction, with the charred body of a man inside. The body, initially believed to belong to Patel, was identified by his wife Hema, who claimed it was her husband’s remains. This led to Patel’s presumed death being officially recognized, and his wife arranged for his last rites to be conducted. However, the police were suspicious due to inconsistencies in the forensic report, which made it unclear whether the body belonged to a man or a woman.
On receiving a tip-off, a special operations team (SOG) and Rajapur police tracked down Sunil Singh Patel to a house in Anandpur village, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, where he was discovered alive and hiding. The arrest of Patel and his wife Hema revealed the horrifying details behind the planned murder. During interrogation, Patel confessed to having staged his death in a desperate attempt to escape his financial troubles. He explained that he had been struggling to repay loans for the beauty parlour and the harvester, which amounted to around Rs. 45 lakh.
Patel’s scheme involved befriending a local man, Vinay Chauhan, who had a similar build to Patel’s. Chauhan, a 30-year-old man from Kanpura village, was a known alcoholic, which Patel exploited to his advantage. Patel invited Chauhan to drink with him on the evening of June 29, 2025. After getting him heavily intoxicated, Patel lured him into his car, with the intent to kill him and stage the accident. Patel had originally planned to kill Chauhan near Shankargarh, but heavy rains altered his plans. He then drove to a secluded area near Sikri Aman village, where the murder took place.
After ensuring that Chauhan was sufficiently drunk, Patel placed him in the front seat of the car and set his plan in motion. He opened a gas cylinder and ignited it, pouring kerosene and camphor on Chauhan’s body and inside the car before setting it ablaze. The car exploded, leaving Chauhan to die a horrific death while Patel fled the scene. Patel’s wife, Hema, claimed the burnt body was her husband’s, and despite the police’s initial doubts, they allowed the cremation to take place after conducting a DNA test on the child of the supposed deceased.
The truth came to light when Patel was found alive at his relative’s home in Rewa. His wife, who had played a key role in the execution of the murder, was also arrested. The police investigation revealed that Patel had planned this gruesome act to claim the Rs. 2 crore life insurance payout, which he intended to use to pay off his debts and lead a luxurious lifestyle. The entire scheme was motivated by his mounting financial pressure and a need to cover up his lavish lifestyle, which included expensive gadgets, parties, and a high-maintenance lifestyle despite having a modest income.
The case highlights a growing trend of insurance fraud and financial schemes designed to escape debt, but it also underscores the role of forensic investigation and community vigilance in uncovering such heinous acts. While Patel and his wife were arrested and charged with murder, conspiracy, and fraud, the investigation continues to gather further evidence regarding their financial dealings and other potential victims of their deceit.
This case serves as a chilling reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go to escape their financial responsibilities, and the extreme measures some are willing to take when faced with overwhelming debts. The involvement of a family member and the fact that such an elaborate scheme was carried out with the intention of defrauding an insurance company and authorities makes it even more disturbing.
The police have assured the public that such cases will be closely monitored, and further steps will be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The authorities have also expressed the need for stricter regulatory frameworks around insurance policies and loan repayments to prevent financial fraud from taking root in society.
Sunil Singh Patel and Hema Singh are currently in custody, awaiting trial. This case has left many shaken, raising questions about how far desperation can drive individuals to commit such gruesome acts of violence and fraud.
