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Dubai expat killed by wife in India; case solved after body found in bag with flight tag
Police said the murder was premeditated; the expat was allegedly drugged then strangled and his wife and her lover tried to fit his body into a small suitcase
- PUBLISHED: Tue 22 Apr 2025, 1:05 PM
A Dubai-based driver visiting home in India was allegedly murdered by his wife and her lover, who dismembered his body and dumped it in a suitcase 55km away, unaware that an airport baggage tag on the bag would lead police straight to them.
The victim, 38-year-old Naushad Ahmad, had returned to his village in Uttar Pradesh just 10 days earlier, police told Khaleej Times.
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On Sunday morning, a farmer discovered an abandoned trolley bag in his field. Police found human remains inside, cut in two and wrapped in plastic and sackcloth.
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The suitcase still had a barcode from Naushad’s recent international flight. That small detail helped police identify the body and trace the murder back to his home in Deoria district.
Suspicion at home
At Naushad’s residence in Bhatouli village, his wife Raziya Sultana told officers he had gone out the previous night and not returned. But her story fell apart when police found bloodstains and another bloodied suitcase in her house.
Under questioning, Raziya confessed to killing her husband with the help of her nephew, Rumaan, with whom she was reportedly having an affair. “He had become an obstacle,” she allegedly told investigators.
Police said the murder was premeditated. On Saturday night, Raziya allegedly drugged Naushad. Once he was unconscious, she called Rumaan. Together, they strangled him and tried to fit his body into a small suitcase. When that didn’t work, they cut his body in two and packed it into the larger trolley bag, the same one Naushad had brought back from Dubai.
Raziya is believed to have overlooked the travel barcode while disposing of the suitcase. Investigators said this lapse proved critical in identifying the victim and cracking the case.
Official account
According to a report shared with Khaleej Times by Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar, the murder came to light after Dial 112 received a call on April 20, reporting an abandoned bag in a wheat field in Pakdi Chhapar village. Senior officers, along with a dog squad, forensic team, and surveillance unit, reached the site and started an investigation.
"The body was later identified as Naushad Ahmad. A search of his home led to the recovery of a bloodstained trolley bag, bed linen, a pillow, and the suspected murder weapons. His mobile phone was also found at the scene," the report said.
"Raziya Sultana, also known as Sheeba, was taken into custody and confessed during interrogation. She admitted to killing her husband with the help of her nephew Rumaan and his friend Himanshu.
"The two men allegedly assisted her in disposing of the body in Tarkulwa. A case has been registered at Mail police station based on a complaint filed by Naushad’s sister-in-law. The two co-accused are currently absconding," the report added.
Weapons recovered
Police said they have recovered an axe, a cleaver, and other sharp tools believed to have been used in the killing. A SIM card was also found near the dumped suitcase.
According to police, Rumaan and Himanshu, both part-time drivers, used an SUV to transport the body to the field. A manhunt is underway to apprehend them.
At the time of the murder, Naushad’s six-year-old daughter, Atifa, was asleep in another room. According to reports, his elderly father, who lives in a separate part of the house was unaware of what had happened that night.
Neighbours say Naushad had discovered his wife’s relationship with Rumaan during a visit last year. A community meeting had followed, and Raziya had agreed to end the affair. But after Naushad returned to Dubai, the relationship reportedly resumed.
Mazhar Farooqui, or Maz, is a multiple award-winning investigative journalist and Senior Editor at Khaleej Times. Renowned for exposing corruption and uncovering major scams, he is also the author of The Maz Files: Scoops, Scams & Showdowns.
