The husband of slain Jharkhand actress and YouTuber Riya Kumari was arrested early on the morning of December 29 and charged with murder, destruction of evidence, torture and criminal conspiracy, hours after he cooked up a story about his wife being shot dead by armed men who tried to rob him at gunpoint while they were on their way from Ranchi to Calcutta on December 28.
Prakash Kumar and Riya Kumari were travelling with their little daughter. The shooting took place at Bagnan in Howrah district.
Prakash allegedly kept changing his statements during the interrogation, creating suspicion in the minds of the investigating police officers, which ultimately led to his arrest. Riya’s brother, Ajay Rana, filed a complaint against Prakash Kumar, the latter’s first wife, Sharada, and his two brothers, Sandip and Akash Kumar.
An Uluberia court remanded Prakash Kumar to police custody for 12 days. The FIR quotes complainant Ajay Rana as saying that his sister used to be tortured and threatened by her husband for more dowry after their marriage about 15 years ago. Ajay told the police that Prakash Kumar was in debt and owed people around Rs. 28-30 lakh.