Aditi Maurya (28), a married woman found dead at her in‑laws’ home here, has left relatives alleging foul play after they spotted multiple injuries on her body. The city police have registered a case and begun forensic probes; the husband, however, told investigators that Aditi hanged herself.

Aditi, originally from Madhupur in Sonbhadra (UP), married 33‑year‑old Ravikant Maurya in February 2019. The couple had a 13‑month‑old daughter. Police said the body was recovered on the night of June 23 from the house on Dayalband Madhuban Road in Bilaspur’s City Kotwali area and sent for post‑mortem. The family conducted the post‑mortem in the presence of relatives, officials said.

What police say

• The husband told police he was sleeping in the upper room with the child and on coming downstairs found Aditi on the bed. He alleged she had tried to hang herself with a silk saree but the noose broke and she fell.

• Authorities registered the matter as a suspicious death (MURG) and the scene was sealed. The FSL team collected evidence from the room and nearby areas, a senior officer said. Investigations are continuing and formal legal action will follow the post‑mortem report.

Family alleges assault and murder
Aditi’s family, however, has accused the husband and in‑laws of killing her. Her brother Akhilesh Verma told police that Aditi had faced physical and mental harassment since the marriage and often complained about abuse during phone calls to her maternal home. Relatives said contacts with Aditi had reduced in recent days, and phone calls to her were often unanswered.

Brothers and other family members claimed visible injuries on Aditi’s body. They said bruises and marks were present on her hands, neck, legs and ear — signs they say are inconsistent with hanging. The family has demanded an impartial investigation and the registration of FIRs against the husband, mother‑in‑law, sister‑in‑law and other relatives.

Dispute over alleged affair and earlier conflict
Police sources said a dispute over the husband’s alleged relationship with another woman had caused friction between the couple. Aditi’s brother Abhishek alleged that she had recorded a video of chats from Ravikant’s phone and sent it to her elder sister a week earlier; family members said that argument may have escalated.

Relatives also said there was a physical altercation on June 23 before Aditi was found unconscious, and that they were informed of her condition only after others alerted them. The family rushed from Uttar Pradesh to Bilaspur when they learned of the incident.

Evidence collection and next steps
The Forensic Science Laboratory team collected samples and material evidence from the scene, and the police completed the panchanama before sending the body for post‑mortem. Officials said biological and circumstantial evidence, along with witness statements and the post‑mortem report, will determine whether death was due to suicide, accidental injury or homicide.

“Post‑mortem findings and forensic reports will be decisive. We are probing all angles, including the family’s allegations,” Additional SP City Pankaj Patel told reporters. The officer added that the investigation will follow legal procedures and action will be taken based on evidence.

Why this matters
The case highlights recurring concerns around domestic strife, alleged marital abuse and demands for transparent probes in suspicious deaths. Families in such cases often call for swift, independent forensic verification to rule out foul play and ensure accountability.

What’s awaited
Authorities said they will release findings after the complete post‑mortem and forensic reports are available. The police have not yet named any accused; they urged family members to cooperate and refrain from public accusations until the investigation progresses.

Focus remains on whether injuries on the body match the husband’s account and on any digital or medical evidence that can clarify events leading up to Aditi’s death. Relatives continue to press for an FIR against the in‑laws and for a fair, speedy probe.