Desk Correspondent , Bhopal - A 33-year-old woman from Noida was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her marital home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills on May 12, just five months after her wedding. The local police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of dowry harassment and murder against her husband, a lawyer, and her mother-in-law, a retired judge. Following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by a local court, the husband has absconded, prompting the police to announce a ₹10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The investigation intensifies as chilling WhatsApp messages emerge, in which the victim expressed feeling "trapped" and "suffocated," repeatedly begging her family to take her back. Key CCTV footage from the night of the incident is also under intense scrutiny; it reportedly shows the woman climbing the stairs, and later, her husband attempting CPR before shifting her to a hospital without informing authorities. Adding to the gravity of the case, the preliminary autopsy report revealed multiple injury marks on her body, which the victim’s family claims indicate physical assault prior to her death.

Severe public outrage and allegations of high-profile influence have put the probe under a cloud, especially after police admitted to a major forensic lapse: failing to send the alleged ligature material to AIIMS Bhopal for matching. While the accused family has mounted a counter-narrative claiming the victim suffered from schizophrenia and substance abuse, her family has vehemently denied these claims, demanding a fresh autopsy at AIIMS Delhi. The SIT chief has promised strict action against the investigating officer for mishandling evidence, maintaining that the probe remains focused on the dowry death FIR.