Birju, 32, from Lucknow’s Ramnagar area, allegedly struck his drinking companion Sachin with a live electrical cable in his apartment on September 28, killing him, and then seized ₹2,250 from his pocket.
Police traced the crime through extensive CCTV footage that captured Birju’s movements from the apartment to a nearby parking lot before dumping the body outside a stranger’s house, a tactic intended to mask the murder as an accidental death.
Inspector Rakesh Kumar of the Lucknow Police said the recovered electrical cable and cooler were key evidence, adding, "The evidence points to premeditation and a clear financial motive."
Sachin’s wife, Meera, described the couple as close friends for years and said the incident shocked their community, highlighting how quickly a friendship can turn deadly.
Birju faces murder and theft charges under Sections 302 and 383 of the Indian Penal Code; the court is scheduled to hear the case on October 20.