PANJIM: The case of April 2022 death of a young married woman Nidhi Gupta in North Goa, initially passed off as a natural death, has been literally resurrected by judicial intervention and being perused as a detailed investigation into the possible murder angle.
However, eyebrows are being raised on the Cause of Death arrived at (27 months after the incident) by a team of two doctors of the GMC Forensics department, who in the Cause of Death report as late as July 8, 2024, concluded that Nidhi Gupta’s cause of death was due to “Bilateral pulmonary oedema associated with intra alveolar haemorrhages”.
Significantly, readers are asked to look at what the same doctor’s noticed while examining the body:
1 Abrasions 2 in number, placed 1 cm apart were present on the right ala of the nose…
2 Superficial lacerations on the oral mucosa of the left side of the upper lip
3 Reddish Purple contusions were present on the right clavicular area
It is for medical and forensic experts in the GMC ecosystem to examine and conclude if the cause of death mentioned in the July 8 report is justified in the light of the surface wounds and injuries noticed by the same doctors.
Significantly though, the High Court and the Sub Divisional Magistrate’s inquest report only strengthens the consistent pleas of the father of the deceased woman that this is a case of foul play.
The inquest report with regards to the death cause of Nidhi Gupta, submitted in the High Court by the Public Prosecutor observed "There was sufficient ground that meticulous investigation by the Pernem police was necessary to ascertain the exact cause and manner of death".
It was also stated in the report that prima facie, victim’s husband Aakanksh Gupta was in some way responsible for the death and that the role of his family members needs to be examined.
As O Heraldo has reported, Sushil Kumar Gupta, the victim's father, in frustration, moved the High Court, so that the Crime Branch, CID or CBI be directed to investigate the case, as he had lost faith in the Pernem police.
Meanwhile, the High Court has directed the Pernem police to register an FIR and to investigate the death of Nidhi Gupta.
The petitioner stated that the Pernem police told him that the FIR would be registered only after receiving the viscera report and after certification by the office of Deputy Collector, Pernem.