6 sisters booked for murder after father’s funeral:Family gathering turned dramatic when body was found inside house

In today’s edition of Madhya Pradesh Crime Files, we revisit a sensational case that stunned the state and challenged conventional notions of family and trust. Six married sisters who had returned to their parental home to attend their father’s 13th-day death ritual (Terahvi) suddenly found themselves accused of a murder case. Having built separate lives with their own families after marriage, the women saw their lives change overnight as they were drawn into a criminal investigation that eventually brought them before a court of law. The case attracted widespread public attention across the state. What exactly happened that six sisters from the same family were accused of serious murder? Whose death occurred inside the house? Read Crime Files Part-1… Silence in the courtroom as six women stand in the dock The date was March 31, 2022, and the venue was Courtroom No. 2 in Ashta, Sehore district. An unusual silence filled the courtroom as six women stood in the accused dock. They were not career criminals nor linked to any criminal network. Instead, they were six biological sisters—Lalta, Sumitra, Sajanbai, Binda, Laxmi and Kanta—all married and settled in their own households. Moments later, Judge Kanchan Saxena entered the courtroom and began reading from the case file as everyone waited for the proceedings to unfold. A family in mourning on the day of the funeral ritual The events trace back to March 25, 2021, around 8 AM, in Indira Colony, Ashta. While the neighbourhood was bustling as usual, the atmosphere inside the Raikwar family home was somber. The family had gathered for the Terahvi ceremony following the death of an elderly member of the household. A tent had been erected outside, chairs were arranged, and relatives continued to arrive throughout the day. Sunita, the family’s daughter-in-law, was busy overseeing the arrangements. After the earlier death of her husband, Shantilal, she had been living in the same house with her children and in-laws. The passing of her father-in-law added another layer of grief to the family. Children sent away moments before the incident Before noon, relatives were present inside the house while Sunita’s children, Anjali and Sachin, were playing outside. According to the account, loud voices suddenly began coming from inside the house. As Sachin tried to enter, his aunts Binda and Laxmi, who were standing near the gate, stopped him. The children were given some money and asked to go to a nearby shop to buy items, sending them away from the house without any knowledge of what was about to happen. Argument escalates inside the house Soon after the children left, the atmosphere reportedly changed. What began as a quiet conversation allegedly turned into an argument, which quickly escalated into a heated dispute. The commotion inside the house grew louder, drawing attention from people outside. Sudden silence followed by police arrival As more people gathered outside, the noise abruptly stopped, leaving an unsettling silence. After some time, an ambulance was called and the police were informed. Officers soon arrived at the scene to find those inside visibly tense, with no one offering a clear explanation of what had occurred. A short while later, a body was brought out of the house and transported to a hospital, where doctors decided to conduct a post-mortem examination. Police simultaneously began their investigation at the scene. Mystery deepens The shocking developments raised several unanswered questions: The answers to these questions are expected to unfold in Crime Files – Part 2.