Team Herald
PERNEM/PANJIM: A Faridabad family has demanded a thorough investigation into the death of their young daughter, who died in allegedly mysterious circumstances while holidaying with her husband in Goa last month.
Nidhi Gupta had arrived in Goa with her husband Akash Gupta on April 24, 2022 to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. They had initially checked into a hotel at Calangute after which they shifted to Lotus Sutra a mini-resort at Arambol. Sources said the woman complained of chest pain and died on or before her arrival to the hospital. While Pernem police registered a case of unnatural death, the victim’s family suspects foul play.
Since the woman died within seven years of her marriage, the Deputy Collector is inquiring into the matter, and his report will decide if a police case has to be made out.
According to sources, the incident took place in the wee hours of April 29, 2022. The couple had returned from a dinner party at their friend’s place in Mapusa.
“On April 28 night the couple had dinner at their friend’s place in Mapusa and went to sleep. She then complained of chest pain and was immediately shifted to Tuem community health center where the doctors on duty declared her bought dead. The Pernem police conducted a panchama. The cause of death has not been revealed and her viscera have been sent to State Forensic Science Laboratory for examination,” sources said.
The woman’s body was handed over to the husband for the final rites, however, the family said that they were hoodwinked into signing the NOC for handing over the body to the husband. The family had sought for a second post mortem in Faridabad, as they were not satisfied with the report of the first post mortem.
The family, unhappy with the manner in which the case was being taken up by the concerned authorities earlier, submitted a memorandum to Pernem Deputy Collector suspecting foul play and demanding a thorough investigation. Their statement was recorded on Tuesday and it is learnt that the husband and his family might also be summoned for inquiry.
“So far the case is being investigated as unnatural death. After the family of the deceased suspected foul play, the matter is with Deputy Collector Pernem for inquiry. If the SDM finds anything suspicious in the inquiry, he will lodge a complaint with the police based on which an FIR will be registered,” a police official in the Pernem police station said.
The family’s claim that their daughter had maintained a personal diary is also likely to be taken up for investigation. Their allegation that the woman was discontented with her marriage will also be probed.
“Her family members expressed suspicion over her death. The sub divisional magistrate was conducting an investigation as she had died within seven years of marriage. We will procure probe documents from the SDM and we will file an FIR in the matter,” Superintendent of Police (North) Shobit Saxena said.