After the state human rights commission served a notice to the Director General of Police, Rewa police carried out a renewed forensic re‑examination on Tuesday evening at the site where a car ran into a group of Jain sadhvis, officials said. An FSL (forensic science laboratory) team was brought in, the area was barricaded and a scene re‑creation was conducted as investigators pieced together events captured on CCTV.

CCTV changed probe direction

Initial local enquiries treated the incident as a routine road accident. But CCTV footage that surfaced late Saturday prompted a shift in the probe. The video, according to sources and preliminary police statements, shows the vehicle traveling on the road before suddenly leaving the carriageway and striking the group of sadhvis standing or walking near the pavement. The clip triggered public outrage in the Jain community and raised questions about whether the collisions were intentional.

Police, FSL revisit site

Officials said the FSL team, accompanied by senior district police, inspected the stretch of road in front of the collectorate where the incident occurred. Investigators examined tyre marks, the vehicle’s final resting position, road camber and likely speed, and attempted to reconstruct the car’s approach angle. Barricades were set up to preserve evidence while the re‑creation was recorded for technical analysis.

“Teams noted specific marks on the road and examined the angle from which the vehicle appears to have left the road,” an officer involved in the site inspection said on condition of anonymity. “We are collecting every piece of physical evidence and correlating it with the CCTV timeline.”

Witnesses re‑interviewed

As part of the renewed exercise, investigators re‑questioned eyewitnesses and called several bystanders back to the scene to walk through what they saw. Police checked the positioning of nearby CCTV cameras and traffic patterns at the time, aiming to reconcile differing witness accounts with the recorded footage.

“Some eyewitnesses were brought to the exact spot so they could indicate where the sadhvis were standing and how the vehicle moved,” a senior official told reporters. “This helps us assess whether the incident could have been a deliberate act or a tragic misjudgement.”

Human rights notice escalates pressure

The Madhya Pradesh human rights commission issued a notice to the state DGP, signalling concern over the handling and classification of the case. According to sources at the commission, the notice seeks a prompt, impartial account of steps taken so far and clarity on whether the matter is being investigated as a possible criminal act rather than a simple traffic accident.

The notice has intensified scrutiny on the district police, prompting officials to adopt additional technical measures and ensure transparent handling. “Following the commission’s notice, there is a clear expectation of a thorough forensics‑led investigation,” said a local rights activist.

Political and community reactions

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who visited a Jain dharamshala in Rewa after viewing the footage, said the clip appeared to show the vehicle running over the sadhvis and called for a strict probe. The Jain community in Rewa has been vocal, demanding the police register the case as murder and press for exemplary action against those responsible.

Community leaders staged small demonstrations outside the collectorate on Tuesday, demanding swift arrests and stronger protective measures for pilgrims and religious mendicants who often travel on foot.

Investigative status and next steps

Additional Superintendent of Police Aarti Singh confirmed the FSL‑led re‑inspection and said forensic reports are awaited. “The investigation is underway. We have conducted a second on‑site inspection with the FSL team and are analysing all technical inputs,” she told reporters. Singh declined to comment on whether charges will be upgraded pending evidence.

Police sources said the vehicle’s owner and driver have been questioned and that further forensic tests, including vehicle damage analysis and paint transfer examination, are being sought to determine intent. The timeline for the FSL report remains unclear but officials said it will be central to the next phase of the probe.

Why it matters

The case has resonated beyond Rewa because it raises broader concerns about safety for religious mendicants and the capability of local investigations to rapidly distinguish between accidents and potential criminal acts. With the human rights commission monitoring the inquiry, authorities face heightened expectations for a clear, evidence‑based outcome that satisfies victims’ families and the wider community.