Meerut court sentences wife Ravita and her lover Amardeep to death in snakebite murder case

A court in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Ravita and her lover Amardeep to death in the much-discussed snakebite murder case. The two were accused of killing Ravita's husband, Amit Kashyap, alias Mikki Kashyap, and trying to make it look like death from a snakebite. Before pronouncing the sentence, the judge referred to the mythological tale of Savitri and Yamraj, which has drawn further attention to the verdict.

The case concerns the murder of Amit Kashyap in Akbarpur Sadat village in the Bahsuma area of Meerut. The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ-12) Jaiveer Singh Nagar held Ravita and Amardeep guilty of murder and destroying evidence, and sentenced both to death.

Before delivering the verdict, the judge spoke of Indian culture and mythology. He cited Savitri, who confronted Yamraj to save her husband's life, and compared it with the wife's act in this case. The judge also said that unrighteousness can never triumph over righteousness.

The incident came to light on April 13, 2025. Amit's body was found on his bed, with a live snake under it. There were about ten marks resembling snakebites on his body, so it was initially suspected that he had died of a snakebite. It is alleged that Ravita too tried to pass off her husband's death as a snakebite. But the post-mortem report revealed a different truth.

According to the report, Amit died of asphyxiation, not a snakebite. His throat, nose and mouth had been pressed. The attack had also damaged the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage in his neck.

Police investigation found that Ravita and Amardeep had spoken on the phone 51 times in the 24 hours before the crime. Medical and digital evidence strengthened the charge that the murder was carried out under the pretext of a snakebite.

According to the police investigation, Ravita and Amardeep were in a relationship. Amardeep and Amit were friends, and both worked laying tiles and stone. The investigation found that when Amit learnt of the relationship, he objected to it. It is alleged that Amit was becoming an obstacle to the relationship, and so a plot to murder him was hatched.

The investigation found that on the night of April 12, 2025, Amit was asleep when his hands were held down and his throat was pressed. A live snake was then left on the bed to make the death look like a snakebite. It is alleged that Amardeep bought the snake for Rs 1,000 from a snake charmer named Krishna, citing a devi jagran (religious night vigil) in the village. Krishna had brought the snake from his grandfather, Pritamnath.

Amit's brother Monu Kashyap filed a complaint against Ravita and Amardeep on April 16, 2025. After the investigation, police filed a chargesheet in court on June 26, 2025.

During the trial, the prosecution had the statements of 12 witnesses in all recorded. They included the deceased Amit's brother Monu, his mother Munesh Devi, the snake charmer, Dr Kapil Garg and investigating officer Indu Verma. The staged snakebite, the post-mortem report and the digital evidence proved crucial in the case, and the court held Ravita and Amardeep guilty and sentenced them to death.