On November 18, 2022, police in Udaipur, Rajasthan, discovered the unclothed bodies of 35-year-old government teacher Rahul Kanwar and his 30-year-old girlfriend Sonu in the dense Ubeshwar forest. The victims had been bound together using 150 grams of super glue (Fevikwik), and their bodies showed severe trauma, including cut and crushed genital area injuries inflicted with a sharp weapon and heavy stones, as well as partial burns. Investigation revealed that Sonu, a divorced woman, had previously been in a secret relationship with a local 55-year-old tantric practitioner named Bhalesh Baba. Sonu later began an affair with Rahul, who was married with two daughters. When Bhalesh exposed the affair to Rahul's family out of jealousy, domestic disputes erupted, and Rahul's wife approached Bhalesh for a spiritual solution. Meanwhile, Sonu allegedly blackmailed Bhalesh with private photographs to prevent him from interfering in her relationship with Rahul. Feeling threatened socially, financially, and personally, Bhalesh spent three months procuring super glue in small quantities. Under the pretense of performing a religious ritual to permanently unite the couple, Bhalesh lured Rahul and Sonu into the forest, instructed them to engage in physical relations during the ritual, poured super glue over them, and brutally assaulted them to death. Police identified Bhalesh after reviewing footage from over 50 CCTV cameras, which captured his signature snake-patterned motorcycle carrying three people toward the forest.
Country: India
State/Province: Rajasthan, India
City/Region: Udaipur
Incident Type: Murder
Relationship Status: Love triangle
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Incident Date: Nov. 18, 2022
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2022-11-18
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Romantic Triangle
The case involves a complex romantic triangle and extortion dynamic centered around an occult practitioner. Bhalesh maintained a secretive relationship with a divorced visitor, Sonu, who subsequently shifted her romantic interest to Rahul, a married teacher visiting the ashram. Driven by jealousy and a desire to protect his reputation when Sonu threatened to expose private photographs, Bhalesh weaponized religious manipulation, pre-planned a weaponized adhesive trap over three months, and executed a double homicide under the guise of an open-air ritual.
Police recovered a mobile phone near the crime scene, which led to the identification of victim Rahul Kanwar. Officers analyzed over 50 CCTV camera feeds surrounding entry points to the Ubeshwar forest, identifying Bhalesh's unique motorcycle featuring a snake emblem carrying three riders. Interrogations of over 200 locals confirmed Bhalesh's ownership. After initial denial, Bhalesh confessed during police questioning, detailing his three-month acquisition of 150 grams of super glue and the murder execution. He remains in custody with legal proceedings ongoing in court.
Initially, responding officers faced immense obscurity due to the isolated forest site, stripped bodies, and lack of immediate eye-witnesses. Investigators initially hypothesized an honor killing executed by disgruntled family members or villagers who might have discovered the couple together in the woods.
The offender systematically bought small quantities of super glue over 90 days to avoid suspicion. He invited Rahul and Sonu to the Ubeshwar forest under the guise of performing a binding ritual to grant their wish to be together. During the prescribed act, Bhalesh applied 150 grams of adhesive onto their bodies, rendering them incapable of separating. He then attacked Rahul with a sharp weapon and crushed both victims with heavy stones, leaving them to die from trauma and pain before attempting to burn the scene.
The risk escalated through overlapping secret affairs, intense jealousy, threat of public exposure/blackmail against a community figure, and pre-meditated tactical planning. The offender's access to trusted spiritual authority enabled him to trick both victims into a vulnerable physical position in an isolated location.
Coercive relationships involving self-proclaimed spiritual leaders carry significant physical and emotional danger due to authority imbalance. Secretive multidirectional infidelities combined with blackmail tactics can rapidly escalate to extreme violence.
Sonu's transition from a secret relationship with Bhalesh to an affair with Rahul created immediate friction. Bhalesh exposed the affair to Rahul's family, triggering intense domestic hostility and prompts for spiritual intervention.
A mobile phone found near the bodies supplied contact numbers to identify Rahul Kanwar. CCTV cameras along forest access routes captured a distinctive motorcycle decorated with a snake motif carrying three people.
Key physical evidence included 150 grams of applied super glue on the victims' bodies, facial and genital trauma from stones and sharp objects, vehicle registration logs matching Bhalesh's snake-patterned bike, and the recovered mobile phone.
Villagers reported recognizing the unique snake-emblem motorcycle as belonging to local tantric practitioner Bhalesh Baba, who frequented the area.
Initial theories of family-led honor killing were discarded once victim identities, Rahul's marital status, and Bhalesh's history with both victims were established through phone records and local interrogations.
The full extent of any indirect encouragement or influence from third parties, such as Rahul's wife seeking a spiritual remedy to separate the lovers, remains a matter under judicial review.