Wife stripped, sons framed in false cases:Father alleges harassment; CBI to probe if Anjana’s death was murder or accident

The mother went to save her son, but the son was murdered and the wife was stripped and beaten. Children are being attacked, false cases are being filed and threats are being received. I don’t understand how we are living. Saying this, the voice of Raghuveer Ahirwar, a resident of Barodiya Naunagir village in Sagar district, reflects anger and a broken trust in the system. His family has faced several tragedies over the past one year. In August 2023, his 18-year-old son Nitin was beaten to death by local strongmen. When Nitin’s mother went to save him, she was stripped and beaten in the middle of the market. After this, the family was pressured to withdraw the case. When they continued to resist, in May 2024, witness and cousin Rajendra Ahirwar was murdered. The very next day, daughter Anjana died under suspicious circumstances. The Madhya Pradesh Police treated Anjana’s death as an accident and attempted to close the case. However, considering the allegations and seriousness, the Supreme Court raised questions over the state police probe and handed over the investigation to the CBI. Following the court’s order, the case has once again come into the spotlight. Former Home Minister Bhupendra Singh has been accused of shielding the accused in the case. Before her death, Anjana had claimed a settlement offer of Rs 2 crore, while Bhupendra Singh has denied these allegations. A Dainik Bhaskar team reached the ground to investigate the case. The report attempts to understand Anjana’s death, lapses in the police investigation, the condition of the family, and the Sagar police’s version. Daughter’s body sent home without notice When the Bhaskar team reached Anjana Ahirwar’s house in Barodiya Naunagir village, they met her father Raghuveer Ahirwar. Sitting in a corner of the house, he became emotional while speaking. He said that in May, he and Anjana were in Khurai when they received news that Rajendra had been murdered. Anjana had gone to bring the body and was contacting leaders for help. She had earlier also demanded justice, but she herself was killed. After the postmortem, the body was sent directly home without any prior information. Father’s claim – Daughter was murdered, she was brave Raghuveer recalls the moment when his son Rohit called and said, “Papa, Anju has been killed.” He says the family was continuously threatened to settle, but they refused. According to him, Anjana was brave and was fighting for justice, so suicide is not possible. Family’s allegation – False cases registered Anjana’s mother becomes emotional recalling the incident. She said, “Nitin was being beaten in the market. When I went to save him, my saree was pulled off. Later, the police gave me clothes.” Brother Rohit alleges that false cases are being filed against them. He said, “Two FIRs have been registered against me, including one accident case, even though I was not present there.” Was Anjana’s death murder or accident, CBI will investigate The Supreme Court said the case has remained disputed and requires a detailed investigation based on witness accounts. The court directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances of death and to register an FIR if a prima facie case is made, followed by further investigation. Read what arguments were presented in court…? 1. No trust in local police: Colin Gonsalves Family lawyer Colin Gonsalves told the court that three members of the family were killed because Anjana did not withdraw the complaint. He alleged that Anjana was pushed out of the ambulance and that former Home Minister Bhupendra Singh was involved, so the local police cannot be trusted. 2. Why taken to hospital in private vehicle?: Meenakshi Arora Counsel Meenakshi Arora, representing the brother, said Anjana was talking on the phone in the ambulance and preparing for a protest. According to her, the injury was at the back of the head, whereas the police claim she fell forward. She also questioned why she was taken to hospital in a private vehicle despite police presence. 3. Girl jumped from ambulance, that’s why death: SV Raju Additional Solicitor General SV Raju rejected the allegations, saying the former minister was being targeted for political reasons. According to him, the girl jumped from the ambulance, leading to her death. He added that witness statements also suggest she opened the rear gate while talking on the phone and fell. Brother’s allegation – Murder by pushing, questions raised about injuries After Rajendra’s postmortem, Anjana was returning to Barodiya Naunagir in an ambulance. At the Sagar tri-junction, she was found lying on the road in a bloodied condition as the vehicle turned. Rajendra’s parents were in the ambulance, and a police vehicle was following, yet she was taken to hospital in a private vehicle, where she was declared dead. The Bhaskar team visited the spot with her brother Vishnu. He said Anjana could not have committed suicide, as she was a key witness in Rajendra’s murder and actively involved in protests. He alleged she was deliberately pushed. According to him, there was no reason for suicide. Vishnu also alleged that the police tried to cover up the case on the directions of former minister Bhupendra Singh. Former Minister Bhupendra Singh maintains silence Sagar ASP Sanjeev Uike, associated with the investigation, said he learned about the CBI probe from the media. He added that the police case diary will be handed over to the CBI. On allegations of false cases, Uike said that Anjana’s brother Vishnu has already been convicted in an attempt to murder case and is out on bail, so the cases cannot be termed false. Meanwhile, former Home Minister Bhupendra Singh did not respond to allegations of helping the accused. He also did not answer questions regarding the CBI probe.