A deeply troubling case has emerged from Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh, drawing uncomfortable comparisons to the widely discussed Twisha Sharma episode from Bhopal. Malti Prajapati, a 30-year-old woman, was found hanging at her home in the Gulzari Ka Bagicha locality, situated behind the Kotwali police station area. Malti had been married to Nepal Prajapati, a resident of Shravan Ka Bagicha, since 2021. The discovery of her body in suspicious circumstances has set her parents' family on a collision course with the in-laws, with sharply conflicting accounts of what happened.
Unsettling Echoes of the Twisha Sharma Case
The Twisha Sharma case from Bhopal once held the entire country's attention when a young woman died in suspicious circumstances at her marital home. In that case, the in-laws described the death as a suicide while the woman's family insisted it was murder. The Sehore incident mirrors those circumstances closely, renewing difficult questions about the treatment of women within marital homes and the responsiveness of the justice system to such cases.
Family Levels Murder Charges, Cites Assault Marks
Malti's family has been categorical in alleging that she was killed. Her father, Jamna Prasad, stated that there are clear marks of physical assault on Malti's back and body, and that disputes at the in-laws' home were a daily occurrence. The family also pointed to injury marks found on both of Malti's thumbs and on her feet as evidence of violence against her.
According to the family, Malti's mobile phone was regularly taken away from her and money was never added to her phone account, effectively severing her ability to contact anyone outside the household. The family has directly accused both the mother-in-law, Dhankour Prajapati, and the husband, Nepal Prajapati, of jointly being responsible for Malti's death. Suspicion deepened further because the mother-in-law neither appeared at the scene after the incident nor made any attempt to contact the family.
Family Refuses Last Rites, Demands Immediate Arrests
Taking a hard stance, Malti's family announced that the last rites would not be performed until the accused were placed under arrest. They called for a fair and independent police investigation and demanded immediate action under domestic violence laws. After police officials gave formal assurances that those found responsible would face action, the family agreed to step back and proceed with the last rites.
Husband Nepal Prajapati Gives His Own Account
Nepal Prajapati, Malti's husband, denied all allegations and offered his version of events. He said he had left the house at around 6 or 7 in the morning, while his mother was at the family shop. He received a call from his niece saying that the house gate was not being opened and their grandfather could be heard calling out from inside. Nepal Prajapati maintained there had been no fight or argument at home. He said any injury marks visible on Malti's body were likely caused when she was brought down from the noose. He called for an ambulance, but one never arrived. He then managed with great difficulty to bring Malti down himself and had to cut through the gate in the process.
Police Recording Statements, Probe Underway
Police have begun recording statements from Malti's family members and others linked to the case. The police have stated clearly that anyone found to be at fault during the investigation will face strict legal action.
