What initially appeared to be a routine missing person complaint in Lucknow’s Ashiyana area has evolved into a disturbing murder investigation after 21-year-old Akshat Pratap Singh was accused of killing his father, businessman Manvendra Singh, and attempting an elaborate cover-up. The case, which began with claims of a sudden disappearance, has since revealed allegations of premeditation, dismemberment and calculated efforts to destroy evidence. Police have secured 14 days of judicial custody of the accused as interrogation continues.
Manvendra Singh, a businessman originally from Jalaun district, had built a successful enterprise in Lucknow, operating multiple pathology laboratories along with licensed liquor shops. According to investigators, tensions had been building within the family over the future of the business and Akshat’s career path. While the father reportedly wanted his son to pursue a medical career through the NEET examination before joining the business, Akshat was said to be more interested in immediately taking charge of the established family enterprise. Frequent disagreements over education, responsibility and succession reportedly deepened the rift between them.
Investigators also examined an earlier incident involving stolen jewellery from the family home about four months before the murder. Although domestic staff were initially suspected, later developments raised doubts and suspicion allegedly shifted within the household. Even though the complaint was eventually withdrawn, police believe the episode damaged the father’s trust in his son and further strained their relationship, leading to closer monitoring of Akshat’s activities.
According to police accounts, the fatal incident occurred around 4.30 am on February 20 on the third floor of the residence. During an argument, Akshat allegedly used his father’s licensed rifle and fired at close range, killing him instantly. His sister Kriti was reportedly present at the time and later told relatives that the gunshot shocked her, after which her brother allegedly claimed the firing was accidental and warned her not to reveal what had happened. Investigators are still examining why other family members in the house did not hear the gunshot.
One of the most unsettling claims emerging from the investigation is that normal activities allegedly continued inside the house after the killing. Police sources suggest that food was consumed in the residence even as the body remained there, and daily routines appeared outwardly unchanged. During this period, Kriti reportedly continued attending examinations, contributing to suspicions that efforts were made to maintain an appearance of normalcy.
Investigators believe preparations for disposing of the body may have begun earlier. Police sources claim that knives were ordered online a day before the incident, while a saw and a large blue plastic drum were later purchased locally. When the body could not fit inside the drum, Akshat allegedly dismembered it, separating the limbs and head. The torso was placed in the drum, while other remains were reportedly transported and discarded at different locations to avoid detection. The rifle used in the shooting was allegedly buried, and some remains were disposed of nearly 21 kilometres away.
Authorities say extensive efforts were made to eliminate forensic evidence. Blood-soaked bedding and other materials were allegedly packed into sacks and burned near a canal bank, where partially burnt remnants have since been recovered for forensic examination. Investigators also discovered freshly painted sections of walls inside the house, which they believe may have been repainted to conceal bloodstains resulting from the shooting.
The investigation took another turn when police examined events following the filing of a missing person complaint on February 21. Akshat allegedly told authorities that his father had travelled to Delhi and could not be contacted. Investigators later found that a WhatsApp group titled “Papa Laut Aao” had been created, where emotional messages were posted urging Manvendra Singh to return home. Police suspect the group may have been intended to divert suspicion while the accused participated in search efforts.
Akshat has claimed that the shooting occurred accidentally, but investigators say the alleged preparation, disposal of remains and attempts to erase evidence raise serious questions about intent and planning. Meanwhile, Manvendra Singh’s sister has rejected the theory that academic pressure alone triggered the crime, stating that the family had supported Akshat and never anticipated such extreme resentment.
Police are also examining the role of the sister, who allegedly remained silent for nearly a day despite witnessing the incident. Investigators are trying to determine whether her actions were driven by fear or whether she possessed prior knowledge of events surrounding the crime. With forensic analysis ongoing, digital evidence under scrutiny and the crime scene reconstruction completed, the investigation has now shifted toward understanding the sequence of actions taken after the killing and the extent of planning involved.
