Patna: The investigation into the death of a NEET aspirant in Patna has intensified, with India’s premier probe agency widening its inquiry amid mounting questions from the family and sharp political intervention.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has questioned the student’s maternal uncle in Jehanabad and her maternal aunt in Gaya as it seeks to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to her death. The focus of the inquiry has expanded beyond the initial debate over suicide or murder to examine the conduct of the hostel where she lived and the hospital where she was treated.
Suspended officer questioned
Investigators have also questioned Hemant Jha, a suspended sub-inspector from Kadamkuan police station, who was removed from duty over alleged negligence in collecting evidence following a forensic science laboratory report. According to officials familiar with the case, he was asked who informed the police about the student’s hospitalisation and when.
The role of Chitraguptanagar police station is also under scrutiny, and the then station house officer and the first investigating officer are expected to be questioned as part of the ongoing probe.
Family alleges lapses at hostel and hospital
The student’s family has consistently alleged that the “mystery lies within” the Shambhu Girls Hostel, where she resided. They have demanded that investigators conduct face-to-face questioning of the hostel’s administrator, her son and the warden, claiming crucial details remain concealed.
They have also raised concerns over an alleged delay in conducting a urine test and accused the hospital administration of negligence in treatment.
Objections have been lodged regarding the care provided at Prabhat Memorial Hospital. Family members claim essential medical tests were not conducted in time and that consultations with other doctors suggested possible lapses in treatment. They have urged the CBI to question doctors and nursing staff, arguing that the hospital management’s role must form a central part of the investigation.
Political row intensifies
The case has taken on a political dimension after the independent MP Pappu Yadav made serious allegations during a Facebook Live broadcast. He claimed the student died in hospital and questioned the functioning of the Patna senior superintendent of police and other officials. He also asked why the hostel administrator had not been arrested and alleged that the case was being framed as a suicide to suppress the truth.
Yadav has called for the release of call detail records, CCTV footage and the student’s original diary. The family has similarly appealed for transparency, saying only a thorough and impartial investigation will restore public trust.
