A bizarre incident has emerged from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj where an alleged extramarital affair reportedly led a man into a trap planned by his estranged wife, eventually resulting in his detention by police and the registration of a criminal case against him. The incident, which has drawn widespread attention locally, unfolded after the woman allegedly used a fake Instagram profile to secretly communicate with her husband and arrange a meeting without revealing her identity.
According to police, the case was reported from the Daraganj area of Prayagraj after a woman identified as Soni Tripathi filed a complaint against her husband, Prabhudutt Tripathi alias Raja. Soni, a resident of Nawabganj, alleged that she had married Prabhudutt, who belongs to Kisundas village in Pratapgarh district, around nine years ago. She claimed that she had been forced out of her matrimonial home several years earlier and had since been living with her parents along with their young daughter.
In her complaint, Soni alleged that during the last five years, her husband neither visited her nor accepted responsibility for their child. According to police officials, she claimed Prabhudutt had completely distanced himself from the family and avoided any meaningful contact. Disturbed by the situation and allegedly suspecting him of pursuing relationships elsewhere, she decided to confront him through an unusual plan.
Police said Soni allegedly created a fake Instagram account pretending to be another woman and sent a friend request to her husband. Unaware that the profile was actually being operated by his wife, Prabhudutt reportedly began interacting with the account. Over time, the conversations reportedly became frequent, and investigators said he eventually expressed interest in marriage while continuing to communicate with the fake profile for several days.
According to the complaint, Prabhudutt repeatedly insisted on meeting the woman in person. Initially, Soni allegedly avoided arranging a meeting, but later agreed to meet him on May 2 at the Nagvasuki temple located in Daraganj. Police said the husband arrived at the temple expecting to meet the woman he believed he had been talking to online.
However, when he reached the location, he was reportedly shocked to discover that the person behind the fake Instagram account was actually his wife. According to Soni’s allegations, the confrontation immediately turned tense after Prabhudutt realised he had been trapped. She claimed that he allegedly assaulted her, threatened her, and attempted to flee from the temple premises.
The incident created a commotion at the crowded temple area, drawing the attention of nearby people and local police personnel. Officers reportedly reached the scene soon afterward and apprehended Prabhudutt before taking him into custody for questioning.
Based on the complaint filed by Soni Tripathi, police have registered a case against the accused and initiated further investigation into the allegations. Authorities stated that statements from both sides are being recorded while officials examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the alleged assault and threats made during the confrontation.
The unusual nature of the case, involving a fake social media identity, alleged marital abandonment, and a confrontation at a public religious site, has generated significant discussion locally and once again highlighted how social media platforms are increasingly becoming central to personal disputes and criminal investigations.
