Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Man Acquitted in Wife's Murder Arrested in Another Killing
A man named Suraj Dhruv was accused of killing his wife, Santoshi, in 2018.
He was found not guilty in 2024.
But just a year later, he was arrested for killing another woman, Sunita Rajak, on the same date in the same place.
Police found new evidence, like CCTV footage, that showed Dhruv with Sunita before she disappeared.
The first case went cold, but the second case was solved with new leads.
Sunita's husband died by suicide after her body was found.
Dhruv is now in custody for the second murder.
Suraj Dhruv was acquitted in the murder of his 19-year-old wife, Santoshi, on April 2, 2018.
Dhruv was arrested on January 17, 2024, for the murder of 55-year-old Sunita Rajak on April 2, 2023.
Sunita Rajak's body was found in a teak forest near the Kodar dam in Mahasamund district.
New CCTV footage and a motorcycle belonging to Dhruv's relative helped police trace him.
Dhruv was acquitted in the first case due to insufficient evidence, but new leads emerged in the second case.
- Who
- Suraj Dhruv, a 21-year-old man at the time of the first murder
- What
- Murder of two women, Santoshi and Sunita Rajak
- When
- First murder on April 2, 2018; second murder on April 2, 2023
- Where
- Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh, India
- Why
- Dhruv was acquitted in the first murder case but arrested for the second murder based on new CCTV evidence
- Victim 1
- Santoshi (19-year-old wife)
- Victim 2
- Sunita Rajak (55-year-old woman)
- Date of First Murder
- April 2, 2018
- Date of Second Murder
- April 2, 2023
- Location
- Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh
- Arrest Date
- January 17, 2024
- Acquittal Date
- December 13, 2024