In a shocking and disturbing turn of events, a man in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested for murdering his live-in partner and storing her body in a refrigerator for six months. The accused, Sanjay Patidar, allegedly killed his partner, Pratibha Prajapati, in March 2024, and kept her body hidden in the fridge until it was discovered on Friday.According to police reports, Patidar had been living with Pratibha in a rented house in Vrindavan Dham, Dewas. The house, owned by businessman Dhirendra Shrivastava, had been rented out to Patidar in June 2023. However, after Patidar vacated the premises in June 2024, he left behind some of his belongings, including the refrigerator, in two locked rooms.The new tenant, Balveer Rajput, who moved in with his family in July 2024, was unable to use the two locked rooms. Patidar had assured the landlord that he would return to collect his belongings, but he kept delaying it. Meanwhile, Balveer complained to the landlord about the high electricity bills, unaware of the gruesome secret hidden in the locked rooms.It was on Thursday that Balveer’s curiosity got the better of him, prompting him to pick the lock, only to be met with a chilling sight: the refrigerator humming away, harboring a ghastly secret within. He switched it off, thinking that it was the reason for the high electricity bills. However, the next morning, a strong stench filled the locality, prompting neighbors to complain to the police.When the police opened the refrigerator, they found Pratibha’s decomposed body wrapped in a bedsheet. The police immediately launched an investigation and began questioning neighbors, who identified Patidar as the prime suspect.Under intense scrutiny, Patidar’s façade crumbled, and he surrendered to the truth, divulging the shocking details of his five-year relationship with Pratibha, a partnership that had devolved into unimaginable violence. However, when she started pressuring him to get married, Patidar became angry and frustrated. He claimed that he had tried to break up with her, but she was adamant on marriage.Patidar allegedly strangled Pratibha with the help of his friend, Vinod Dave, and then stuffed her body into the fridge. He locked the room and fled, returning every 15 days to check on the decomposing body. With a chilling sense of routine, Patidar would periodically return to the scene of his crime, visiting the locked room every fortnight to bear witness to the gruesome consequences of his actions. Meanwhile, investigators have uncovered a startling twist: Vinod Dave, Patidar’s alleged accomplice, is presently incarcerated in Rajasthan’s Tonk district, serving time for an unrelated offense. They are coordinating with the Rajasthan police to question him in connection with Pratibha’s murder.Forensic experts have collected evidence from the crime scene, and a panel of doctors has conducted the post-mortem examination. The police have arrested Patidar and are investigating the case further.Locals have described Pratibha as a social and enterprising person who ran a bangles business from the house. Her murder has sent shockwaves through the community, and people are demanding justice for the victim.Here’s a reaction from a woman in a live in relationship :“Having walked in the shoes of vulnerability as a woman in a live-in relationship, I am shaken to my core by the atrocities perpetrated by Sanjay Patidar. The fact that he could so callously dispose of his partner’s life and then coldly store her body in a fridge, is a chilling reminder of the darkest aspects of human nature. It’s heartbreaking to think that Pratibha, a vibrant and entrepreneurial woman, had to meet such a tragic end. Her brutal murder is a stark warning to all women in live-in relationships, highlighting the need for us to be vigilant and proactive in seeking help when we sense even a hint of danger. No woman deserves to be treated like a disposable object, and it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that we create a society where women feel safe, valued, and empowered to make their choices. Pratibha’s memory demands that we take a strong stance against domestic violence and work towards creating a world where love is not a privilege, but a fundamental right.” – PreetiThe case highlights the darker aspects of human nature and the need for greater awareness and sensitivity towards domestic violence and relationship issues. It also underscores the importance of prompt action by law enforcement agencies in investigating and solving such crimes.
By Anusmita Bhatta
Reporting for True To Life News Media Pvt. Ltd.