Father and Stepmother Arrested in Teen's Murder Case in Meerut

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have arrested a man and his second wife in connection with the death of his 17-year-old daughter, Khushi, in Meerut. The case surfaced when her maternal uncle, Bhupendra Sharma, accused the couple of killing the girl.

Kapil Bhardwaj, residing in the Bhavanpur area, reportedly lost his first wife, Preeti, in 2017 and later married Pinki. Khushi was found dead under suspicious circumstances on a Monday night. Allegedly, Bhardwaj hastily performed her last rites without notifying her maternal relations.

Upon hearing of her death, Sharma arrived from Hapur and contacted the police. Following Bhardwaj's alleged confession during questioning, both he and his second wife have been detained. Official charges, including murder, have been filed, while police continue to investigate further.

An audio recording also suggests Khushi had feared for her life, further substantiating Sharma's claims of ongoing harassment from her family. He also raised doubts over his sister Preeti's death, prompting a deeper probe into the family's history.

(With inputs from agencies.)