Office romance turns deadly: HR manager murdered, dismembered in Agra; lover arrested

A 32-year-old woman working as an HR manager was murdered, dismembered and her body dumped near a bridge over the Yamuna river in Agra, allegedly by her lover, police reportedly said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Vinay Singh (30), has been arrested, while efforts are continuing to recover the victim’s severed head. 

Police reportedly stated that the woman’s body was found stuffed inside a gunny bag on Jawahar Bridge in the Etmadullah police station area in the early hours of January 24.

The victim was later identified as Minky Sharma, a resident of Tedhi Bagiya in Agra. She was employed as an HR manager with a private firm in Sanjay Place, where Singh worked as a computer operator.

According to police, the two had been in a relationship for more than two years. Singh allegedly grew suspicious after learning that Sharma had been in contact with another man for the past six months, leading to frequent arguments that eventually culminated in the crime.

Dharmendra Kumar, Station house officer (SHO), reportedly disclosed, “Minky left home around 2 pm on January 23, telling her family she was going to the office. When she did not return by evening and her phone was switched off, the family searched for her and later lodged a missing complaint at the Trans Yamuna police station.”

Meanwhile, at around 1 am on January 24, locals spotted a gunny bag lying on Jawahar Bridge and alerted the police. On opening it, officers found the headless body of a woman, prompting an investigation to establish her identity.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Sayed Ali Abbas constituted five police teams to crack the case. CCTV footage later showed a man dragging a gunny bag out of an office and riding a scooter towards Jawahar Bridge.

“Based on the missing complaint and CCTV footage from Maruti Plaza, the suspect was identified as Vinay Singh. He was also captured on cameras installed on MG Road and the highway while riding the victim’s scooter,” a police officer said.

During interrogation, Singh allegedly confessed to the crime, telling investigators that he had called Sharma to the office on January 23. Following an argument, he attacked her with a knife, inflicting fatal injuries, police said.

“He then dismembered the body, packed it in a plastic bag and sealed it with parcel tape. The severed head was kept separately in a backpack,” the officer added.

The accused reportedly took the body on the victim’s scooter to Jawahar Bridge with the intention of dumping it into the Yamuna. “When he failed to lift the bag and noticed passersby, he abandoned it near the bridge and fled. He later disposed of the severed head, the victim’s clothes, mobile phone and bag near a drain, and left the scooter at a secluded location,” police said.

An FIR has been registered at the Trans Yamuna police station under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (destruction of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Police have recovered the scooter, the knife allegedly used in the crime and the victim’s clothes.

DCP Abbas said the accused had wanted to marry Sharma, but she had refused. “On detailed interrogation, he confessed to the crime. The body has been identified by the family, and the recovered articles corroborate the case. Vinay Singh is being sent to judicial custody, and the strictest action will be taken,” he said.