In the suspicious death of Dr Richa Pandey, an Assistant Professor at RKDF College, a short post-mortem report has indicated that poisoning is suspected for the death. The initial findings suggest that the cause of death might not be suicide, but rather an intentional poisoning, although the final determination is still pending. According to police sources, traces of poison were found in her body, and further investigations are being conducted to confirm whether this was a case of murder. Dr Richa’s family, especially her mother, Renu Pandey, has directly accused her husband, Dr Abhijeet Pandey of being responsible for her daughter’s death. Renu claims that her son-in-law’s behaviour after their marriage had been concerning. She alleged that Dr Abhijeet frequently demanded dowry, including asking for a house, and often disappeared for several days without informing anyone. Despite being newly-married, Richa had reportedly expressed her distress about her husband’s behaviour, which led to constant tension in their relationship. Renu firmly believes that her daughter, who was known for her strong will and character, could never have taken her own life.

 

She pointed to marks found on Dr Richa’s body, including bruises and signs of strangulation on her neck, which she insists are clear indications of murder. She stated that the situation had been manipulated to make it look like a suicide. According to Renu, her daughter had confided in her multiple times about her husband’s suspicious actions, and Richa had been unhappy with her marriage despite her efforts to salvage it. The incident occurred on March 21 when Dr Abhijeet reportedly found his wife unconscious and took her to Bansal Hospital, where she was declared dead. Prior to that, Dr Abhijeet had informed Richa’s uncle, P C Pandey, a Naib Tehsildar, who is based in Bhopal. However, the family claims that Dr Abhijeet’s relatives showed no concern or visited after the death was confirmed, further deepening the family’s suspicions.

 

Following the tragic event, Shahpura police began their investigation and sent the body for a post-mortem examination at Hamidia Hospital. The initial findings from the post-mortem indicated the presence of poison, but police are awaiting the full report to confirm the cause of death. ACP Habibganj Nihat Upadhyay confirmed that poison was found in Dr Richa’s body, and authorities are investigating further. Dr Abhijeet, who initially went into hiding after the incident, was eventually apprehended by the police. The investigation is going on, and police are considering all possible angles, including whether Dr Richa’s death was a result of poisoning orchestrated by her husband. Once the final post-mortem report is received, the police will take further action and ensure that justice is served. The Shahpura Police have stated that they are investigating every possible angle in this case, and once the post-mortem report is complete, they will determine whether the death was indeed a homicide.