Bhopal police on Saturday constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged dowry death case involving a retired district judge and her advocate son. The 33-year-old wife of the judge's son was found dead at their Katara Hills residence earlier this week.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The woman's Noida-based family alleged it to be a dowry death, leading to the registration of an FIR. While the former district judge was granted anticipatory bail, her lawyer son remains absconding. The case gained attention after the woman's family alleged dowry harassment, physical assault, and attempts to destroy evidence following her death on May 12 night. Her brother, an Indian Army major, sought intervention from senior authorities over the alleged delay in FIR registration.
Court Orders and SIT Formation
On Friday evening, a Bhopal court granted anticipatory bail to the retired judge. The hearing on her son's anticipatory bail plea is scheduled for Monday. Officials stated that the SIT will be headed by an ACP-rank officer and include a woman police officer along with a member from the cyber cell. Police have intensified efforts to trace and arrest the son, against whom an FIR was already registered along with his mother under provisions related to dowry death and cruelty. Multiple teams have been deployed as part of the search operation.
ACP Rajnish Kashyap, who heads the SIT, told TOI: "An SIT has been constituted to probe into the matter. All aspects of the case will be investigated. I will be heading the SIT. At the same time, efforts are on to arrest the accused and teams have been deployed."
Forensic Evidence
A copy of the post-mortem report conducted at AIIMS Bhopal stated that the woman died due to "antemortem hanging by ligature." The report also noted multiple simple injuries on other parts of the body, possibly caused by blunt force. Blood and viscera samples have been preserved for toxicological analysis, while nail clippings were secured for DNA examination. The report further recorded that the ligature material was "neither present in situ nor submitted" for examination.
Investigation Details
Police sources said investigators are examining all forensic, digital, and circumstantial evidence as part of the SIT probe. The SIT will delve into all aspects of the case, including the allegations of evidence destruction and the delay in FIR registration.
