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OSINT Case File

Psychological & Behavioral Intelligence

the murder of sushila devi in Kumhariya Village, Jhansi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

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Human-reviewed analysis

Psychological & Behavioral Intelligence

This source-based behavioral analysis does not establish a clinical diagnosis, motive, or legal finding.

Case Overview

This case involves complex interpersonal dynamics centered on Pooja Jatav, the victim Sushila Devi, and their extended family. The narrative reveals a trajectory of relationship conflicts, betrayals, and escalating hostility culminating in a premeditated murder. Pooja's behavior shows patterns of deception, manipulation, and instrumental aggression, intertwined with family opposition, financial motives, and extradyadic attachments. The psychological and behavioral analysis is grounded in the reported events and statements, highlighting emotional states, relationship stressors, control dynamics, and planning behaviors that contributed to the fatal incident.

Relationship Dynamics

The relationship between Pooja and the Rajput family was initially strained due to caste-based family opposition and the live-in relationship with Kalyan Rajput. After Kalyan's death, Pooja was accepted into the family but underlying tensions persisted, especially due to her extramarital affair with Santosh Rajput, her brother-in-law. This affair fractured family bonds, particularly with Ragini, Santosh's wife, leading to chronic interpersonal conflict and eventual separation. Financial disputes over land inheritance intensified resentment, especially with Sushila Devi opposing Pooja's claims. Pooja's manipulative behavior and shifting allegiances further destabilized family trust, culminating in a conspiracy to murder Sushila Devi to remove obstacles to her financial and relational goals.

Escalation Summary

The pathway began with family opposition and caste-based rejection, followed by Pooja's live-in relationship and subsequent widowhood. The extramarital affair with Santosh escalated tensions, leading to Ragini's departure and increased family conflict. Financial disputes over land shares heightened resentment, particularly with Sushila Devi's refusal to concede. Pooja's calculated planning, involving co-offenders Kamini and Anil, exploited family absences to execute a premeditated murder staged as a robbery. Post-offense, Pooja attempted deception and impression management, but police investigation revealed the conspiracy, arresting co-offenders and linking Pooja to the crime.

Observed Patterns and Case-Specific Context

Each entry separates the reported behavior or state from the analytical strength of the available narration.

Behavior / construct Person / subject Detailed case context Evidence
Family opposition or interference Family dynamics Rajput family

The Rajput family’s caste-based disapproval led to rejection of Pooja, forcing her and Kalyan to rent a room and live in a live-in relationship away from the family home. This opposition set the stage for ongoing family tensions and conflicts.

Context or trigger: Initial rejection of Pooja as daughter-in-law due to caste differences

Reported expression: Outright refusal to accept Pooja, causing her and Kalyan to live separately

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Grief and bereavement Emotional state Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Following Kalyan’s sudden death, Pooja exhibited intense grief, tearfully claiming to be an orphan and expressing profound loss. This emotional state elicited family sympathy and led to her acceptance into the Rajput household.

Context or trigger: Death of Kalyan Rajput in a road accident

Reported expression: Uncontrollable crying, clinging to mother-in-law’s feet, expressing orphanhood and loss

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Marital dissatisfaction Relationship stressor Pooja Jatav and Ramesh

Pooja’s marriage to Ramesh deteriorated due to her stubbornness and aggressive demands, which Ramesh could not meet. This led to escalating conflicts, suspicion fueled by social media comments, and eventual physical abuse by Ramesh, contributing to Pooja’s hatred and violent response.

Context or trigger: Early marriage conflicts marked by opposing temperaments and unmet demands

Reported expression: Daily fights, suspicion, and physical abuse by Ramesh

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Instrumental aggression Offender behavior Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Faced with marital dissatisfaction and abuse, Pooja used her savings to hire contract killers to eliminate Ramesh. This premeditated aggression was instrumental, aimed at achieving separation without divorce, reflecting calculated violent behavior.

Context or trigger: Hiring contract killers to attack first husband Ramesh

Reported expression: Orchestrated attempt to murder to separate from husband

 Narrative-supported psychological state Confidence: High
Extradyadic attachment Attachment-related behavior Pooja Jatav and Santosh Rajput

During pandemic-induced isolation, Pooja and her brother-in-law Santosh developed a secret romantic and physical relationship, violating family boundaries and causing significant familial disruption.

Context or trigger: Pandemic lockdown leading to increased time together and secret affair

Reported expression: Affair and physical relationship despite family ties

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Chronic interpersonal conflict Relationship stressor Rajput family

The affair and resulting child led to persistent conflict between Santosh and his wife Ragini, escalating to Ragini demanding her husband’s share of land and eventually leaving the family home, fracturing family cohesion.

Context or trigger: Affair revelation and birth of Santosh’s child with Pooja

Reported expression: Daily fights, Ragini’s departure, and family breakdown

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Financial strain or dependence Relationship stressor Ragini Witness, Relative, Ex-suspect

Ragini’s financial vulnerability, lacking savings or support, compelled her to demand her husband’s share of land as a means to establish independence and safety for herself and her child.

Context or trigger: Lack of savings and support after family conflict

Reported expression: Demanding husband’s land share to secure future

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Family opposition or interference Family dynamics Sushila Devi VictimMother in Law of the victim

Sushila Devi opposed Pooja’s claim to Kalyan’s land, suspecting her involvement in Kalyan’s death and refusing to allow land division favoring Pooja, which deepened family divisions and resentment.

Context or trigger: Refusal to transfer Kalyan’s land share to Pooja

Reported expression: Flat refusal, suspicion of Pooja’s motives, and distancing

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Anger or resentment Emotional state Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Pooja’s resentment grew as Sushila Devi blocked her financial claims and family support waned. This anger crystallized into a resolve to eliminate Sushila, viewing her as the main obstacle to her goals.

Context or trigger: Denial of land rights and family distancing

Reported expression: Hatred towards mother-in-law and resolve to remove her

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Premeditation and planning Planning or impulsivity Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Pooja orchestrated a calculated plan to murder Sushila Devi by ensuring key family members were away, involving co-offenders Kamini and Anil, and staging the crime scene as a robbery to mislead investigators.

Context or trigger: Conspiracy involving Kamini and Anil to murder Sushila Devi

Reported expression: Detailed murder plan exploiting family absences and staging robbery

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Co-offender facilitation Offender behavior Kamini and Anil Verma

Kamini and Anil actively participated in the murder by attacking Sushila, restraining her, administering poison, strangling her to ensure death, and stealing valuables to stage a robbery, directly facilitating Pooja’s plan.

Context or trigger: Involvement in murder execution under Pooja’s direction

Reported expression: Physical attack, binding, poisoning, strangulation, and theft

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Deception or concealment Behavioral pattern Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Pooja’s inconsistent statements, including accusing Ajay Rajput and fabricating narratives, reflect deliberate deception aimed at evading suspicion and manipulating the investigation.

Context or trigger: Changing statements during police interrogation and false alibis

Reported expression: Repeatedly altering stories, implicating others, and misleading police

 Explicitly reported Confidence: High
Impression management Post-offense behavior Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Despite escalating family tensions and plotting murder, Pooja maintained a vibrant online persona, sharing joyful videos and reels, suggesting an attempt to manage public perception and conceal true intentions.

Context or trigger: Active social media presence during family conflict and murder planning

Reported expression: Posting cheerful reels and videos masking underlying turmoil

 Narrative-supported psychological state Confidence: High
Victim devaluation Cognitive pattern Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender

Pooja’s perception of Sushila shifted from affectionate to adversarial, devaluing her as a person and obstacle, justifying extreme measures to remove her from the family and inheritance path.

Context or trigger: View of Sushila Devi as obstacle to financial and personal goals

Reported expression: Hatred and decision to murder mother-in-law

 Narrative-supported psychological state Confidence: High

Behavioral Escalation Pathway

Select a stage to expand it; scroll horizontally to follow the full sequence.

Narrative sequence
1 Initial family rejection due to caste Rajput family Family opposition or interference Explicitly reported

The Rajput family refused to accept Pooja as daughter-in-law because of caste differences, forcing her and Kalyan to live separately in a live-in relationship, sowing early seeds of family tension.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

2 Kalyan’s death and Pooja’s acceptance Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender Grief and bereavement Explicitly reported

After Kalyan died in a road accident, Pooja expressed intense grief, leading the family to accept her as a daughter-in-law and integrate her into the household.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

3 Pandemic lockdown and extramarital affair Pooja Jatav and Santosh Rajput Extradyadic attachment Explicitly reported

During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, Pooja and Santosh developed a secret affair, crossing familial boundaries and initiating a relationship that fractured family trust.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

4 Family breakdown and Ragini’s departure Rajput family Chronic interpersonal conflict Explicitly reported

The affair and resulting child led to persistent conflict, with Ragini demanding land rights and eventually leaving the family home, deepening family fractures.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

5 Financial disputes over land inheritance Sushila Devi VictimMother in Law of the victim Family opposition or interference Explicitly reported

Sushila Devi opposed Pooja’s claim to Kalyan’s land share, refusing to allow transfer and suspecting Pooja’s motives, which increased resentment and hostility.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

6 Pooja’s growing resentment and resolve Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender Anger or resentment Explicitly reported

Blocked financially and distanced by family, Pooja’s anger intensified, leading her to resolve to remove Sushila Devi as an obstacle.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

7 Conspiracy and murder planning Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender Premeditation and planning Explicitly reported

Pooja conspired with Kamini and Anil to murder Sushila, timing the act to coincide with family absences and staging the crime as a robbery to mislead police.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

8 Execution of murder by co-offenders Kamini and Anil Verma Co-offender facilitation Explicitly reported

Kamini and Anil physically attacked Sushila, restrained her, administered poison, strangled her, and stole valuables, directly carrying out the murder as per Pooja’s plan.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

9 Post-murder deception and investigation Pooja Jatav Suspect, OffenderWife of the offender Deception or concealment Explicitly reported

Pooja gave inconsistent statements, attempted to implicate others, and maintained a cheerful social media presence to conceal her involvement and manipulate perceptions.

Explicitly reported · High confidence

Arrows show the sequence described in the source narrative; they do not prove that one psychological state caused the next event.

Source Limits and Cautions

The analysis is limited by reliance on narrated events without clinical diagnoses or direct psychological assessments. Some claims, such as suspected physical relations between Pooja and Ajay Rajput or the nature of Kalyan's death, remain speculative or unresolved. Pooja's shifting statements and possible deception complicate establishing clear motives or emotional states. The absence of direct testimony from some involved parties and lack of detailed psychological evaluations restricts certainty in some behavioral inferences.

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