The police in Bhadohi have registered a case against a woman and five members of her family in connection with the suspected murder of her husband, who went missing eight years ago after being called to his in-laws’ house, officials said.

  The FIR was lodged following the directive of Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashok Kumar Mishra, police said.

According to Chauri SHO Ramesh Kumar, the case has been registered under IPC sections 364 (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) against Rekha Devi, the wife of the missing man, Ramesh Pathak, Akhilesh Pathak, Rahul Pathak, Deepak Pathak, Aarti Devi, and other unidentified persons.

The missing man, Ajay Kumar Dubey alias Sonu, a native of Handia in Prayagraj district, married Rekha Devi (29) from Manikpur village in Bhadohi in 2008.

Police said there were frequent disputes between the couple, allegedly over suspicious visitors who used to meet Rekha Devi at her in-laws’ home in Prayagraj, which Ajay objected to.

Ajay’s father, Rama Shankar Dubey (58), filed a petition in the CJM court on April 20, 2024, alleging that while the family was in Mumbai and Rekha was at her maternal home in Bhadohi, she called Ajay to visit her on January 30, 2017.

He never returned after that, according to police.

The petitioner claimed that after trying to trace Ajay through local relatives, they were informed that he did arrive at Rekha’s home on January 30, where a heated argument took place. He has not been seen since.

The SHO said the family suspects that Ajay was either killed or made to disappear on the same day.

Taking note of Rama Dubey’s petition, CJM Mishra on July 19 directed the police to file a case against Rekha, her family members, and unidentified persons.

Police said they lodged the FIR on the same day and launched an investigation to determine the whereabouts of Ajay.