A case that has shaken the Nangloi region of Delhi, the body of a 19-year-old woman, identified as Sonia, was recovered by Delhi Police on Monday, October 21. Sonia, who had been reported missing the previous day, was allegedly murdered by a man named Saleem, who deceived her by posing as a Hindu named Sanju. Police say Saleem trapped Sonia in a romantic relationship by claiming he was a Hindu, then sexually assaulted her, resulting in pregnancy, and ultimately murdered her when she requested marriage.
The incident surfaced when Sonia’s family reported her missing on October 20. They suspected the man, known to Sonia as ‘Sanju,’ to be involved in her disappearance. A relative remarked, “We were concerned because Sonia was involved with someone, but we didn’t know his real identity.”
Following the report, an intense investigation led to the grim discovery of Sonia’s body, buried six feet underground in Rohtak, Delhi. According to police sources, Saleem, with the help of two accomplices, strangled Sonia on October 20 and buried her in a grave.
In his confession, Saleem admitted to deceiving Sonia by introducing himself as Sanju and building a relationship over several months. “He made her believe he was Hindu and claimed he was in love with her,” said an investigating officer.
Sonia’s family shared that she was emotionally invested in ‘Sanju,’ even saving his contact under the name ‘bhoot’ (ghost). “We often told her that he wasn’t good for her, but she was in love and wouldn’t listen,” her brother recalled. The family noticed her growing attachment to ‘Sanju’ but had no idea about his true identity. “It was only when we went looking for him that we discovered his real name was Saleem,” her brother said.
Sonia had posted Instagram reels expressing her affection for ‘Sanju,’ captioned with phrases like, “I love bhoot,” which her family now recounts with sorrow. Her brother added, “We warned her repeatedly, but she was convinced of his promises of marriage.”
Police revealed that after Sonia became pregnant, she insisted on marriage, to which Saleem agreed to meet her on Karwa Chauth, a festival where married women fast for their husband’s longevity.
Saleem told Sonia to observe a fast for him on October 20, saying they would marry that evening and break her fast together. She left home with high hopes, never to return. On the pretext of marriage, Saleem took Sonia in a car along with two friends, Ritik and Pankaj, claiming they were headed to perform marriage rituals. Instead, he killed her, buried her body, and returned to deceive her family.
When Sonia failed to return, her family filed a missing person report, fearing the worst. “We were afraid that ‘Sanju’ was behind her disappearance,” her brother stated. As police investigated, they soon discovered Saleem’s real identity through official documents his family provided. “It was a horrifying realization. We thought Sonia was safe with someone who loved her. He turned out to be her killer,” a family member said, struggling to hold back tears.
Delhi Police have arrested Saleem and detained his accomplices, Ritik and Pankaj. Authorities are now investigating the possibility of Sonia being aware of Saleem’s real identity and whether she was coerced into silence. An official stated, “The case involves betrayal, abuse, and murder. We are investigating every angle to ensure justice is served.”
The question remains: was this a case of “Love Jihad,” or something else? As per the details collected by Organiser, Sonia’s family was unaware that Sanju was actually Saleem. The question that lingers is whether Sonia herself was aware of his real identity. A glance at his Instagram profile adds another layer to the story: Saleem’s profile, once under the handle “ssanju_17,” has now been altered to “ssaleem_,” suggesting a deliberate attempt to mask his identity. Additionally, his bio still describes him as “Sanju Malik,” and his photos depict him wearing symbols typically associated with Hindu culture, such as a kada and tilak.
While the details remain murky, ongoing investigations may soon shed light on the true nature of this tragic incident.
