Instagram Affair Ends in ‘Box Murder’: Woman’s Body Found in Septic Tank, Live-in Partner Arrested in Bhopal

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a sensational case from the Nishatpura area, police have solved the murder of a woman whose decomposed body was found stuffed inside an iron trunk and dumped in a septic tank near Kamla Nagar.

The deceased has been identified as Ashrafi alias Siya (also referred to as Misbah), aged between 22 and 33 years as per varying records, a native of Gondia district in Maharashtra. Police said the case was cracked within 24 hours of the body’s recovery.

The body was discovered on Thursday afternoon after children playing on a vacant plot near Housing Board Colony complained of a foul smell. Around 3:30 pm, police were alerted about a suspicious trunk floating in a drain/septic tank. Upon opening it, officers found a severely decomposed woman’s body. Identification was established through a tattoo on her hand bearing the name “Deep” and the year 1992, along with verification of missing person records.

According to police, Siya had come to Bhopal around five years ago and had met the main accused, Sameer Khan, through Instagram about a year ago. The two developed a relationship, and in October 2025 she began living with him in Kamla Nagar. Sameer was already married and had children. Police said he had initially introduced Siya to family members as a “friend”.

Investigations revealed that tensions escalated after Siya allegedly demanded marriage or ₹5 lakh to separate. Frequent disputes reportedly led Sameer’s wife to temporarily leave for her parental home in Jabalpur.

On the night of February 7–8, 2026, following a heated argument, Sameer allegedly strangled Siya to death. Her body was kept inside the house for a day before being sealed in an iron trunk and thrown into a septic tank located about 200 metres from the accused’s residence.

Police have arrested Sameer Khan along with three of his family members — his mother Shehnaz Bi, sister Sayma, and brother Sahil — for their alleged involvement in concealing the crime. Authorities are continuing further investigation to establish the full sequence of events and roles of each accused.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the Nishatpura locality, highlighting a tragic end to what began as a social media relationship.

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