In one of the most disturbing instances of honor killing in recent memory, a young woman working for a multinational corporation in Gurugram was murdered by those she should have been safest with—her own family. Saraswati Maliyan, just 23 years old, was strangled and later set ablaze by her father and brother in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district for being in a live-in relationship.
While the rest of the world was moving forward, Saraswati’s family remained chained to regressive ideals, choosing bloodshed over acceptance. This chilling case is not just a heinous crime; it is a reminder of the brutal reality many women in India still face when asserting autonomy over their own lives.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Saraswati Maliyan was a young, ambitious woman. Employed with a well-known e-commerce MNC in Gurugram, she was responsible for handling orders and last-mile delivery—a role that speaks to her professional competence and growing independence.
But Saraswati was also in a live-in relationship with a man named Amit, who hailed from the same village as her family. This relationship, consensual and entirely legal under Indian law, became the reason for her brutal murder.
According to police reports, her father Rajveer Singh, 55, and her brother Sumit Singh, 24, were vehemently opposed to this relationship. Despite Saraswati being an adult and capable of making her own choices, her family's honor was placed above her life.
The Murder: Planned, Executed, and Covered Up
The crime unfolded on the night of May 29-30, 2025, inside the family’s home in Muzaffarnagar’s Kakrauli region. Enraged and unable to accept Saraswati’s relationship with Amit, Rajveer and Sumit allegedly strangled her to death. The murder was not spontaneous—it was deliberate and premeditated.
They weren’t alone. A third accused, Gurdayal Singh, a friend of Sumit, helped them dispose of the body. The trio carried Saraswati’s lifeless body to a forested area about 5 kilometers away in Katia village, doused it in petrol, and set it ablaze.
To mislead the authorities, the family filed a missing person’s report a few days after the murder. The goal was simple—erase her presence, silence the scandal, and protect the so-called family honor.
A Bracelet That Told the Truth
The charred remains of Saraswati were discovered on June 3 by the Muzaffarnagar police. Her body was burned beyond recognition, but a silver bracelet on her wrist became the vital clue. “The body was completely burned. A silver bracelet on her hand was our only clue,” said Station House Officer Joginder Singh.
The police took a close-up photograph of the bracelet and began combing through missing persons reports. On checking social media platforms like Instagram, they were able to match the bracelet to pictures of Saraswati, helping them confirm her identity.
The Arrests and the Confessions
Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjay Kumar Verma confirmed that both Rajveer and Sumit had confessed to the murder. Gurdayal Singh remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track him down.
The case has been filed under Sections 103 (murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
This is not just a crime of passion. This is a calculated, honor-driven execution, rooted in patriarchal control and the societal obsession with female chastity, obedience, and familial reputation.
A History of Oppression
This was not the first time Saraswati’s autonomy had been snatched from her. In 2019, she was reportedly forced into marriage. She stayed in that marriage for two years before leaving and returning to her family home—a rare and bold act in rural India. But even after asserting her independence once, she was met with violence instead of support.
It’s clear that Saraswati’s family never accepted her desire to live life on her own terms. Her decision to be in a live-in relationship was seen as shameful—a challenge to male authority and traditional norms.
A Larger Problem: Women’s Freedom in India
While India legally permits adults to choose their partners, honor killings continue to plague many regions—especially when women dare to challenge patriarchal customs. Despite Supreme Court rulings and increased awareness, young women are often forced into marriages, harassed, or worse—killed—for loving someone of their choice.
Live-in relationships, although legal, are still stigmatized in many parts of the country. The idea that a woman can live with a man without a marriage certificate is enough to spark outrage and, as this case tragically proves, lead to murder.
Justice Must Prevail
It is imperative that justice be swift and unsparing in this case. While the police have acted commendably in tracing the killers and making arrests, the judicial system must send a strong message—that no notion of honor can justify murder.
Saraswati’s story is not just about one woman—it represents the countless others who live under constant scrutiny, fear, and oppression. It raises uncomfortable but necessary questions about how deeply entrenched misogyny and control still are in the Indian social fabric.
Conclusion: Her Name Was Saraswati
Her name was Saraswati. She was 23. She had dreams, a career, and someone she loved. She did everything right—except be born into a world that still measures a woman’s worth by her obedience, not her will.
As we mourn the loss of yet another young life to a senseless crime in the name of family honor, we must ask ourselves—how many more Saraswatis will it take before we change?
