A woman in Uttar Pradesh allegedly created a fake Instagram profile to lure her estranged husband into a trap that led to his arrest on charges of assault and intimidation, police said Wednesday. Soni Tripathi, who has been living separately from her husband Prabhudutt Tripathi in Pratapgarh district for four years, used the fake account to arrange a meeting at Nagvasuki Temple in Daraganj on May 2, 2026.

Police said Prabhudutt arrived at the temple with a friend after allegedly agreeing to marry the person behind the fake profile, unaware it was his wife. When Soni, wearing a scarf and spectacles, revealed her identity, officers said he assaulted her and threatened to kill her before attempting to flee. Her family intervened, restrained him, and alerted police by dialing 112.

Daraganj police have registered a case against Prabhudutt under Sections 115(2), 351(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult to provoke breach of peace. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the online exchange and the authenticity of the social media evidence.

The accused remains in custody, and police have initiated procedures for further legal action. The court is expected to take cognizance of the case in the coming week.