The small town of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh was rocked by a crime so shocking it drew comparisons to the infamous Raja Raghuvanshi murder case in Indore, where a newlywed was killed by his wife and her lover during their honeymoon.

But in Rampur, a young woman named GulfaSha took deceit to a new level. Just one day before her wedding, she conspired with her lover to murder her groom-to-be, Nihal. The tragedy unfolded with cold precision, leaving a family in grief and a community in disbelief. On Monday, June 16, 2025, police recovered Nihal’s body, and a case of kidnapping and murder was filed against four individuals, including the bride-to-be, GulfaSha, and her lover, Saddam. While Saddam and his friend Farman have been arrested, GulfaSha and another accomplice remain on the run, with police hot on their trail.

In the quiet locality of Fakiron Wala Phatak in Rampur, 35-year-old Nihal was brimming with excitement. His wedding was just a day away, set for June 15, 2025. He had spent weeks preparing, dreaming of the moment he would bring his bride, 22-year-old GulfaSha from Dhanupura village, home in a grand procession filled with music and joy. Nihal, a cook who earned a living catering at weddings and parties, was known for his cheerful demeanor. Neighbors recalled him humming Bollywood songs, lost in thoughts of his new life with GulfaSha. His family was busy with last-minute preparations, and the air was thick with anticipation. But in a cruel twist of fate, Nihal’s dreams were about to be snuffed out by the very person he trusted most.

Unbeknownst to Nihal, GulfaSha was hiding a dark secret. She had been in a relationship with Saddam, a 32-year-old neighbor, for over a year. When her marriage to Nihal was arranged four months ago, Saddam’s jealousy erupted. He couldn’t bear the thought of GulfaSha marrying another man. According to police reports, Saddam stormed into her home, caused a scene, and issued a chilling warning: “I won’t let your wedding happen.” This wasn’t just an empty threat—it was the spark that ignited a sinister plan.

On June 14, 2025, the day before the wedding, Nihal was at home, likely putting the final touches on his wedding preparations. Around noon, his phone rang. The caller claimed to be GulfaSha’s cousin, asking Nihal to step outside to provide clothing measurements for the wedding. Trusting the voice on the other end, Nihal didn’t think twice. He stepped out of his house in Fakiron Wala Phatak, unaware that he was walking into a trap. Waiting outside were two men on a motorcycle. One was Saddam, GulfaSha’s lover, who had lied about being her cousin. The other was his friend Farman, ready to assist in the crime. Nihal, oblivious to the danger, climbed onto the bike with them, thinking he was simply running a quick errand.

The men drove Nihal to a secluded forested area near Ratanpura in the Azimnagar police station area. There, in a sugarcane field, the betrayal turned deadly. Saddam, with Farman’s help, brutally strangled Nihal. Despite his desperate struggle, Nihal was no match for his attackers. He never had the chance to ask why his life was being taken. After the murder, Saddam and Farman dumped Nihal’s body in the sugarcane field, hoping it would go undiscovered. To cover their tracks, they smashed Nihal’s phone and left it behind, believing they had erased any evidence that could lead back to them.

Nihal’s family grew worried when he didn’t return home. His brother, Nayab Shah, sensed something was terribly wrong and alerted the police. The investigation began swiftly, with authorities scanning CCTV footage from the area. The footage revealed two young men on a motorcycle with Nihal, providing the first major lead. Following this, police tracked down and arrested Saddam and Farman. Under questioning, the two confessed to their horrific crime, revealing the chilling details of how they lured and killed Nihal. On Monday morning, guided by the suspects’ statements, police recovered Nihal’s body from the Ratanpura jungle. The sight of his lifeless body in the sugarcane field sent shockwaves through the community.

Nayab Shah filed a formal complaint, naming GulfaSha, Saddam, Farman, and another individual, Anees, as the culprits behind his brother’s kidnapping and murder. The police registered an FIR against the four under charges of kidnapping and murder. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Atul Srivastava confirmed the arrests of Saddam and Farman, stating, “Farman son of Mehboob told that Nihal was kidnapped and strangulated to death and the body was hidden in a corn field in the forest. His mobile was broken.” However, GulfaSha and Anees remain at large, with search operations ongoing to apprehend them.

Rampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Vidyasagar Mishra provided further insight into the motive, noting that GulfaSha and Saddam had been in a relationship for over a year. When GulfaSha’s marriage to Nihal was fixed, Saddam’s anger boiled over. “Saddam is absconding, he is also being searched. All the accused will be arrested soon,” Mishra assured the public, emphasizing that GulfaSha was being questioned in connection to the case. The proximity of Saddam’s home to GulfaSha’s in Dhanupura village gave him easy access to plan the murder, making the conspiracy even more chilling.

The case has left Rampur reeling, with residents struggling to comprehend how a wedding, meant to be a celebration of love, turned into a scene of betrayal and violence. Nihal’s family is devastated, grappling with the loss of a son and brother who was on the cusp of starting a new chapter. The community, still shaken by similar high-profile cases like those of Muskan in Meerut and Sonam Raghuvanshi in Indore, now adds GulfaSha’s name to the list of shocking betrayals. As the police continue their hunt for GulfaSha and Anees, questions linger: How did a young woman’s secret affair lead to such a brutal act? And will justice be served for Nihal, whose dreams of a joyful wedding were stolen in the most heartless way?

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