A Russian judge was found gunned down on the street with a knife plunged into his eye and his severed genitals stuffed in his mouth. Judge Vasily Vetlugin, aged 40, was attacked by his secretary’s husband who suspected an affair, say reports citing law enforcement.

Sergey Kibalnikov, 47, a transport business owner, was detained at the scene of the killing, and is under investigation for “murder with particular cruelty” in Kamyshin, Volgograd region. His wife Yelena Kibalnikova, 40, was the judge’s secretary. Law enforcement is investigating whether the gruesome murder was motivated by “jealousy”.

Unconfirmed reports alleged Kibalnikov had been fighting in the war against Ukraine, and returned home on leave when he became suspicious of his wife having an affair with the married judge, the father of recently born twins.

The judge was shot with a Saiga semi-automatic hunting rifle.

The bloodstained suspect – pictured in handcuffs – confessed to the killing under interrogation, said the Russian Investigative Committee.

An eyewitness said: “The judge came out of the courthouse, got into his car, started to drive off. The man blocked his way and began shooting at the car. The judge ran out and headed towards the lawyers [office], but the man gunned him down, cut off his penis, shoved it into his mouth, and stabbed him repeatedly, finally sticking the knife into his [eye]. He was detained at the scene of the crime — he didn’t even try to run. The killer is the husband of a court secretary.”

A source said: “He did not try to hide. He waited for the police and surrendered.”

Another account reported: “He found out that his wife was cheating on him with the federal judge, ambushed him around the corner of the City Court, and dealt with the rival.

“After the murder, he did not try to hide and surrendered to the police.”

The judge’s family denied he had been having an affair.

They posted: “Vasily was married. He recently became the father of twin daughters. He was a man of honour.”