Noida Couple Found Dead in Car, Suspected Murder-Suicide Over Rejected Marriage

A tragic incident unfolded in Noida on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14, 2026, when a 32-year-old man, Sumit Kumar, and a 26-year-old woman, Rekha, were discovered dead with gunshot wounds inside a locked car in Sector 107. The vehicle was found suspiciously parked near Dadri Road, close to pillar number 84, by locals who then alerted the police. Upon arrival, a team from the Sector 39 police station broke open a window to find the couple deceased on the front seats, both with bullet injuries to their heads. A pistol was recovered from Sumit's hand, and two spent cartridges were also found inside the car. Preliminary investigations by the police strongly suggest a case of murder-suicide, where Sumit allegedly shot Rekha before turning the weapon on himself. This theory is largely supported by a WhatsApp message purportedly typed by Sumit hours before the bodies were discovered. In this message, Sumit claimed that he and Rekha had been in a relationship for approximately 15 years and had plans for marriage. However, he stated that Rekha had recently decided to marry someone else, which he described as a betrayal, leading him to take the extreme step. Rekha, a resident of Salarpur in Noida (some reports also state Sector 101 or Sector 58), worked for a private company in Sector 62. Sumit Kumar, from Trilokpuri in Delhi, ran a mineral water plant business. Both individuals had been reported missing by their respective families since Friday, February 13, 2026. Sumit's family had lodged a missing person report at Trilokpuri police station in Delhi, while Rekha's family filed a complaint at Sector 58 police station in Noida. The incident has sparked conflicting narratives from the families of the deceased. Sumit's relatives have questioned the police's suicide theory, alleging that the couple might have been murdered due to caste-based issues. They claim that Rekha's family used to taunt Sumit over his caste and that they had received threatening calls, some from international numbers. A cousin of Sumit mentioned that the couple had been together for over a decade, their relationship was known to both families, and Sumit had even purchased a flat and a car for Rekha. Conversely, Rekha's family presented a different account, alleging that Sumit had harassed her in the past, leading to a police complaint that was later withdrawn after his apology. Rekha's brother stated that their relationship had become strained in recent months, primarily because her family was arranging her marriage elsewhere due to caste differences. Rekha's family also expressed suspicion about the circumstances, particularly since the car was found only a few hundred meters from their village in Salarpur, suggesting foul play. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Manisha Singh stated that forensic teams were called to the scene to collect evidence, including blood samples and the weapon. Ballistic examination of the pistol will be crucial in determining the sequence of events, including the firing distance. Mobile phone data of both victims will also be analyzed to reconstruct their movements and conversations leading up to the incident. Police confirmed that the weapon recovered was illegal. Officials noted the absence of CCTV cameras in the immediate vicinity where the car was found, but teams are scanning footage from nearby routes to trace their movements. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and investigators are probing all possible angles, including the allegations raised by both families. This incident highlights the complexities of relationships, family pressures, and societal issues like caste differences in India. The police investigation is ongoing, aiming to piece together the exact sequence of events and motives behind this tragic Valentine's Day deaths. The differing accounts from the families underscore the need for a thorough and impartial probe to ascertain the truth behind the suspected murder-suicide. The recovery of the WhatsApp message, indicating a long-term relationship and a sense of betrayal, remains a central element in the ongoing investigation. The incident has drawn significant media attention across national news outlets, reflecting its public significance.

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