Patna Medical Student Death Case: SIT Report Points to Suicide Amid Controversy
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the tragic death of a medical aspirant in Patna has completed its investigation and is preparing to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This development comes amidst ongoing controversy and persistent allegations from the victim's family, who have raised serious concerns about the handling of evidence and the investigation's conclusions.
Investigation Findings and Suicide Conclusion
According to official sources, the SIT submitted its comprehensive investigation report to Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar on Saturday. The report firmly concludes that the incident represents a clear case of suicide. This determination follows intense scrutiny of the case, which began after the minor girl from Jehanabad was discovered unconscious in her hostel room at a girls' hostel in Patna on January 6.
The victim later succumbed to her condition on January 11 during treatment at a private hospital, where she had remained in a coma for several days. Medical reports from the private hospital indicated that urine tests and other examinations pointed to death caused by an overdose of anti-depressant medications. Investigators recovered three strips of medicine from her room, which were initially handed over to the girl's family by the hostel warden.
Conflicting Evidence and Sexual Assault Allegations
However, the investigation took a complex turn when the post-mortem examination conducted at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) revealed injuries consistent with sexual violence. A subsequent biological report based on forensic analysis detected traces of semen on the victim's undergarments, raising strong suspicions of sexual assault preceding her death.
Following age verification procedures, provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were added to the First Information Report (FIR). This legal development added significant gravity to the case and intensified public attention.
Family Cooperation Challenges and Evidence Concerns
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the victim's family has not been cooperating with the investigation despite the SIT sharing all available evidence. "Even on Friday, they created a disturbance at the DGP's residence when the team presented all case details. They appear more focused on publicizing the matter than assisting the investigation," the official stated.
The SIT report presents psychological evidence suggesting the girl had exhibited suicidal tendencies over an extended period. This conclusion draws from her mobile phone search history, which contained queries about different poisons and medication salts, along with personal diary entries referencing examination pressure, career concerns, family disputes, and a past relationship. All these materials were recovered from her Patna hostel room.
Evidence Chain and Custody Questions
Sources within the investigation team raised concerns about evidence handling, alleging that the family initially withheld crucial information. "The family consistently concealed details. They initially resisted registering the case when Kadamkuan police approached them and even pressured the hospital against informing authorities. We have witness statements and evidence supporting this," the sources explained.
Furthermore, investigators claim the family hid two medicine strips, surrendering only one strip along with the victim's mobile phone after the FIR was registered on January 9. Later allegations suggested the warden had planted empty medicine strips in the room.
The investigation revealed that six medicine strips were originally brought by the girl's father from Jehanabad on December 27 last year, when the family collected her from the Patna hostel. Regarding clothing evidence, while the family alleged destruction of their daughter's clothes, CCTV footage from the hospital showed nursing staff handing over the garments at admission time.
These clothes were eventually sent for forensic examination on January 10, when the family finally surrendered them. "The semen traces were detected precisely from those clothing items," confirmed an investigating officer. The five-day delay in evidence submission raised significant questions about the chain of custody—the documented process ensuring evidence integrity from collection to forensic analysis.
Timeline Reconstruction and Unexplained Elements
Police acquired comprehensive CCTV footage tracking the girl's movements from her arrival in Patna on January 5 from Jehanabad until she was found unconscious in her room. Officers visited the hostel and obtained this footage on the same day the FIR was registered.
Regarding injury marks on her hand and shoulder, medical reports suggested these might have occurred around January 3-4 while she was in Jehanabad. "These remain unexplained injuries. We are not claiming nothing happened to the girl, but we are certain it did not occur here in Patna," the official emphasized, noting that investigation teams visiting Jehanabad received minimal cooperation.
Forensic Analysis and Ongoing Questions
Officials disclosed that semen traces found on the victim's clothes were approximately one week old from the January 10 seizure date. Investigators collected blood samples from 19-20 individuals for matching purposes, though results from some samples remain pending.
Sources revealed additional puzzling elements in the timeline. The girl contacted her father between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM on January 25 last year, but the call went unanswered. "Subsequently, the family arrived in an SUV and took the girl with them—an unprecedented occurrence. They provided no explanation to police. Something may have transpired in Jehanabad before she returned to Patna by train on January 5. Several timeline gaps persist," the sources concluded.
As the case prepares for CBI transfer, fundamental questions remain unresolved. The conflicting medical evidence, questions about evidence handling, and the family's persistent allegations ensure this tragic case will continue receiving intense scrutiny as it enters its next investigative phase.
