Lucknow, July 22– What began as a street-side altercation a decade ago turned into a chilling saga of revenge and murder, culminating in the arrest of five men — all thanks to an incriminating set of party photos posted on social media.
Sonu Kashyap, the main accused, had been carrying a burning grudge since his mother was publicly thrashed and humiliated by Manoj, a coconut water vendor, over a dispute ten years ago. The incident scarred him deeply. Manoj fled the area soon after, but for Sonu, the wound never healed. In true cinematic fashion, he made it his life’s mission to track down the man who had wronged his family.
After nearly a decade of searching the streets of Lucknow, Sonu finally spotted Manoj around three months ago in the city’s Munshi Pulia locality. What followed was a cold and calculated plan of vengeance. Sonu conducted a recce, monitored Manoj’s daily movements, and prepared an elaborate plan to end his life.
But he couldn’t do it alone. Sonu enlisted four of his friends — Ranjeet, Adil, Salamu, and Rehmat Ali — with the simple promise of a celebration party after the murder. On May 22, they found the perfect opportunity. Manoj had just closed his stall and was alone. The group attacked him with iron rods, leaving him grievously injured. He later succumbed to his injuries.
The murder left police baffled. Though CCTV footage captured the assault, the suspects had disappeared without a trace, making the case a blind probe.
The breakthrough came unexpectedly — from social media. Days after the murder, Sonu threw a liquor party to celebrate the “mission accomplished.” Pictures from the gathering surfaced online, and investigators noticed something familiar. One of the men in the CCTV footage wore a distinctive orange T-shirt — the same T-shirt he was seen wearing in the party photos.
This connection proved vital. By tracing the social media profiles linked to the images, police identified and arrested all five suspects.
What started as a brutal street brawl ended in a calculated murder ten years later — a chilling reminder of how long-held grudges can spiral into violence. Ironically, the celebratory moment meant to mark their “success” became the very clue that exposed them.
