Bhilai, April 29, 2026: In a sensational triple murder case that shocked Chhattisgarh in 2020, a court in Durg has awarded the death penalty to the prime accused, Ravi Sharma. The verdict comes nearly six years after the gruesome incident that had sent shockwaves across the region.
The case came to light on the morning of January 21, 2020, when Kala Suryavanshi, mother of the deceased Manju Sharma, received a suspicious phone call from her daughter’s mobile phone. The caller informed her that her daughter and son-in-law were “burning inside the house” and abruptly disconnected the call.
Acting on the information, family members rushed to Parijat Colony in Talpuri, Bhilai, where they found the house locked from outside with smoke emanating from within. Upon breaking open the door, they discovered the bodies of Manju Sharma, her one-and-a-half-month-old infant, and an unidentified man. All three victims were found with their hands, legs, and mouths taped.
Initial investigation attempted to mislead authorities, suggesting involvement of a person named “Sanjay Devangan,” as indicated by a message written on the door. However, a detailed police probe later revealed a completely different story.
CCTV footage showed accused Ravi Sharma entering the house with an unidentified man and later exiting alone, raising strong suspicion and prompting further investigation.
During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused had murdered a mentally unstable man of similar physique to fake his own death and escape. He allegedly intoxicated the victim by mixing sedatives in alcohol before killing him. Subsequently, he brutally murdered his wife Manju and their infant daughter.
In an attempt to destroy evidence, the accused had also planned a gas cylinder explosion to burn the bodies beyond recognition. However, the plan did not fully succeed.
After committing the crime, the accused attempted to flee via Raipur towards Rourkela but was apprehended by the police at a railway station.
The police built a strong case based on CCTV footage, call detail records, seized materials, handwriting expert analysis, and witness statements.
Additional Sessions Judge Yashwant Kumar Sarathi of Durg Court termed the act as “rarest of rare” and awarded the death sentence to the accused.
In the case, Public Prosecutor Bhavesh Katre presented strong arguments, while the investigation was led by then Station House Officer Suresh Kumar Dhruv (currently DSP, EOW/ACB), whose efforts were instrumental in securing conviction.