Judicial magistrate, Kanpur, Pratibha Gautam was found dead on Sunday. According to sources, her body was found by her husband at her official residence. Pratibha’s body was found hanging with her wrists slit, raising suspicions of murder.
According to sources, the judicial magistrate was pregnant and travelled to Delhi to meet her husband, Manu Abhishek Rajan. However, she left for Kanpur on the same day after getting into a heated argument with him.
Sources reveal that Pratibha switched her phone off after the argument, only to switch it back on late in the night.
Speaking to the journalists, SSP of Kanpur, Shalabh Mathur said that Mr Rajan has been booked under section 302 (murder) and 304B (dowry) of IPC.
Manu Abhishek Rajan claims that he rushed to Kanpur on Sunday only to find his wife dead, after which he informed the police and relatives of the situation. However, the district magistrate’s family has alleged that the husband used to “torture” her and have demanded an enquiry into the matter.
The judicial magistrate’s death coming a day after her fight with her husband – who mentioned the fight in his statement – and the manner of it has raised questions of foul play in the case.
After the news of her death broke, heavy presence of police was witnessed at Pratibha Gautam’s residence.
The police is investigating the matter, and prima facie are treating it as a suicide case.
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