The Case of Kushagra

Background

• Date and Time: October 30, 2023, evening 7:30
• Person: Kushagra, 16-year-old, 10th standard student
• Incident: Kidnapping
• Key Characters:
  • Kushagra's mother
  • Kushagra's father
  • Sumit Kanodia (Uncle in Lucknow)
  • Rachita (Tuition teacher)
  • Prabhat Shukla (Rachita's boyfriend)
  • Aryan/Shiva Gupta (Prabhat’s friend)
  • Security guard at Kushagra's apartment

Timeline of Events

• 7:30 PM: Kushagra had not returned from coaching.
• Mother's concern: Calls him but phone is switched off.
• Father’s reassurance: Suggests Kushagra may be with friends.
• Mother's inquiries: Calls coaching center and friends; learns Kushagra left on time.
• 8:01 PM: Mother finds a letter on the balcony; demands a ransom of ₹30 lakhs.
• 9:30 PM: Family members, including uncle Sumit Kanodia, arrive from Lucknow.

Ransom Letter Details

• Demand: ₹30 lakhs ransom
• Instructions:
  • Do not involve police or others.
  • Arrange the money within 2-3 days.
  • Deliver money at 2 AM to Coca Cola crossing.
  • Sign: Green flag around the house
• Confusing elements: Mix of Islamic and Hindu references to mislead investigation.

Police and Family Investigation

• Security Guard’s Account:
  • Boy on a scooter delivered the letter; had covered number plates.
  • Guard noted the number: UP 78 ED 2204.
• CCTV Footage: Scooter and delivery boy seen on footage.
• Breakthrough: Number plate led investigators to tuition teacher Rachita.
• Rachita’s role: Claimed scooter was with boyfriend Prabhat, whom family visited.
• Family Strategy: Gained Prabhat’s cooperation under pretense of finding Kushagra.

Interrogation and Discovery

• Prabhat’s Arrest: Misled initially but cracked under pressure.
• Rachita’s Confession: Revealed the entire plan under police pressure.
• Main culprits: Rachita, Prabhat, and Aryan.
• Kushagra’s Location: Found dead in Prabhat’s storeroom, strangled.

Crime and Motive

• Motive: Financial greed; plan by Prabhat and Rachita to demand ₹30 lakhs ransom.
• Executed by: Prabhat, Rachita, and Aryan; monitored Kushagra’s routines.
• Inciting incident: Seen the family’s wealth at a party on October 13.
• Plan Execution: Prabhat gained Kushagra’s trust for a lift, then murdered him at home.

Legal and Social Implications

• Legal Outcome: Rachita, Prabhat, and Aryan arrested.
• Family's Demand: Death penalty for the culprits.
• Public Appeal: Need for responsible reporting and sensitivity towards victim’s family.
• Society’s Role: Support the family and fight for justice against such greed-motivated crimes.
• Critical Reflection: Betrayal by trusted individuals; importance of vigilance and community support.

Final Thoughts

• Impact on Family: Devastating loss of a young life and breach of trust.
• Lesson: Trust and betrayal; how greed can lead people to commit heinous crimes.
• Public Awareness: The case highlights the need for societal vigilance and support for victims’ families.