Varanasi Murder Case: Main Accused Vivek Choubey Shot During Police Encounter and Taken into Custody

Varanasi – The long‑running murder investigation that shook the city took a sudden turn on Monday when police said they finally nabbed the main accused, Vivek Choubey, also known as Nikhil. The 27‑year‑old was shot in the right leg during what officials described as an “encounter” in the Rajatalab‑Jagatdevpur stretch.

According to the Rajatalab police, a tip‑off led officers to spot Choubey heading towards Jagatdevpur. When the team moved to stop him, he allegedly broke into a run, turned his back, and opened fire. The officers returned fire in self‑defence, and the bullet struck his leg. He was rushed to the Community Health Centre in Jakhini for treatment before being taken into custody.

Investigators recovered a country‑made .315 bore pistol, one live cartridge and another empty shell from his possession. The weapon, they say, is now part of a separate case under the Arms Act.

The background of the case is grim. On August 18, 22‑year‑old Shreya Upadhyay, a promising M.Sc. student, vanished. Her body was later found on August 20 in Bachhav Paschimpura, under Rohaniya police jurisdiction. An FIR (No. 157/2026) was lodged at Rajatalab Police Station, citing sections 103(1), 3(5) and 238(A) of the BNS.

Four police teams, including personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG), were assembled to track down those responsible. Two other suspects – Puneet Mishra and Ramsahay Choubey – were already in jail, arrested on August 24 and August 27 respectively.

During preliminary questioning, Vivek Choubey reportedly confessed that he and Mishra killed Shreya on August 18 after a heated argument over her marriage being arranged elsewhere. Police, however, caution that this statement is only the start of a deeper probe. They are still verifying every detail and gathering more evidence.

The arrest has brought some relief to Shreya’s grieving family, yet the case remains under active investigation. Authorities promise to keep the public updated as they move forward with the legal process.