Key Points
- Saba Firdaus, an aspiring officer, confessed to killing her husband Mumtaz after uncovering his extra-marital affair and enduring repeated assaults.
- She meticulously planned the murder by researching techniques on Google and YouTube, and drew inspiration from dozens of crime serials.
- Saba stabbed her husband 17 times; digital evidence from her phone supported the confession.
- The murder bears an eerie resemblance to film plots like ‘Drishyam,’ as Saba attempted to script her escape.
- Repeatedly changing her story led police to suspect and eventually arrest her within six days of the crime.
Muzaffarpur: Muzaffarpur, Bihar, witnessed a spine-chilling case straight out of a crime thriller. On 7 July 2025, Panchayat Rozgar Sevak Mumtaz was found brutally murdered, sending shockwaves through the district. Just six days later, police nabbed his wife, Saba Firdaus, after inconsistencies began piling up in her statements.
The Motive and the Plan
- Saba, married to Mumtaz since 2012 and mother of three, was reportedly distressed upon learning of her husband’s affair in 2022.
- She alleged that when confronted, Mumtaz not only denied the relationship but also subjected her to frequent physical abuse.
- Intensely frustrated and determined to raise her children alone, Saba said that while preparing for competitive exams like BPSC and UPSC, she began researching ways to commit murder without getting caught.
- By her own confession, Saba:
- Consumed over 100 episodes of crime serials for ideas.
- Took detailed notes on murder techniques from Google and YouTube.
- Did a “dry run” of her plan before executing it on the night of 13 July.
The Night of the Murder
- On the fateful night, Saba waited until her children were asleep. She took a kitchen knife, entered the other room where Mumtaz was sleeping, and stabbed him 17 times in the chest.
- After ensuring he was dead, she returned to her children, leaving no immediate evidence pointing to her.
Covering Her Tracks But Digital Fingerprints Remain
- Saba then attempted to mislead investigators:
- First claimed she discovered Mumtaz dead after a power cut.
- Later said she was held hostage during a robbery and her husband was killed by intruders.
- Pretended to faint and grieved loudly on the day of the murder.
- However, the police grew skeptical due to her constantly shifting narratives and a crime scene that did not match her version—particularly the presence of a blood-stained knife and the unusual forced entry using a gas cutter.
- A digital investigation revealed that Saba’s search history was filled with queries about murder methods, and she had watched numerous YouTube videos on similar crimes.
Unraveling the ‘Perfect Crime’
- Investigators found missing cash, jewelry, and the CCTV hard disk, likely disposed of to erase evidence, yet Saba’s changing statements and digital trail led them directly to her.
- SSP Sushil Kumar noted that Saba’s inability to stick to a single version of events aroused suspicion almost immediately.
Timeline of the Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Saba and Mumtaz marry |
| 2022 | Saba discovers husband’s alleged affair |
| 7 July 2025 | Mumtaz murdered |
| 13 July 2025 | Saba arrested after police investigation |
The Muzaffarpur case exposes how real-life tragedies are increasingly taking cues from crime fiction and the digital world. Saba Firdaus’s calculated murder, rooted in personal anguish and inspired by media and online research, failed to defeat police scrutiny due to her digital footprint and contradictory statements. The chilling episode serves as a stark reminder of the growing social complexities behind domestic crimes.
