Pune/Begusarai: A 31-year-old woman from Begusarai, Bihar, died in Pune on September 14, hours after she was photographed with her husband and two children during a Ganpati puja at their residence. Her family has questioned the circumstances of her death and sought a detailed investigation.
The deceased, Ragini Kumari, was found dead at around 8:30 pm in a flat at Avila Society in Bavdhan, Pune, according to her family. Her brother Gautam later submitted an application to the Bavdhan police station (Pimpri Chinchwad Police), following which a case was registered. Police are investigating the allegations raised by the family.
Police said the exact cause of death will be established through the postmortem report and evidence collected during the investigation. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings.
Family alleges suspicious circumstances
Ragini was the daughter of retired Subedar Ramkishore Mishra, who lives in the Begusarai district headquarters area. She had married Dheeraj Kumar Rai, son of Hereram Rai of Shasan village under Hasanpur police station in Samastipur district, around nine years ago.
Dheeraj works as a software engineer in Pune, and Ragini had been living with him in the city since their marriage. The couple had two children—a son aged eight and a daughter aged seven.
According to her family, Ragini had completed a BTech degree and worked before marriage but left her job afterwards. Her relatives have also alleged that she had not been allowed to use a mobile phone freely for a long period.
Her family has sought an investigation into these allegations and whether they had any connection with her death.
Family raises mobile phone issue
Ragini’s brother Uttam Mishra reportedly gave her a mobile phone during Raksha Bandhan this year. Her family alleges that Dheeraj objected to it and kept the phone with himself.
In the application submitted to Pune Police by her brother Gautam, the family has linked the alleged restriction on communication with relatives to claims of mental harassment and sought an impartial investigation.
On September 14, the family was preparing for Ganpati puja at home. A photograph showing Ragini, Dheeraj and their two children was taken during the celebrations. According to the family, everyone appeared normal in the photograph. A few hours later, her relatives were informed about her death.
Father questions circumstances of death
After receiving information about the death, Gautam travelled to Pune. He has claimed that Ragini’s body was found lying inside the flat when he reached there.
Her father, Ramkishore Mishra, has also sought an investigation to establish whether Ragini died by suicide or whether there was another reason behind her death.
Mishra has alleged that he noticed blue and black marks on his daughter’s neck. These allegations have not been independently established. Police are investigating the circumstances of the death and the postmortem findings are expected to help determine the cause of death.
Panchayat held after body taken to Samastipur
Ragini’s body was subsequently taken to Shasan village in Samastipur, where a village-level meeting involving relatives from both sides was held.
A video from the meeting shows villagers and relatives questioning Dheeraj about Ragini’s communication with her maternal family and the use of a mobile phone. Discussions were also held about the future of the couple’s two children.
According to details emerging from the meeting, there was discussion about safeguarding the children’s share in Dheeraj’s ancestral property and house, meeting their educational expenses and transferring money deposited in Ragini’s name to the children.
There was also discussion about Dheeraj taking responsibility for raising the two children and an agreement regarding his future marriage. These points relate to the family and village-level discussions and their legal status, if any, would depend on formal documentation and applicable law.
Eight-year-old son performs last rites
Ragini’s body was brought to Begusarai on Wednesday, where her last rites were performed at Simaria Ghat.
Her eight-year-old son performed the last rites. Family members were seen mourning during the funeral.
Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ragini’s death. The postmortem findings and other evidence will be crucial in determining the cause of death and the subsequent course of legal action.
