Patna: The body of a 22-year-old nursing student, identified as Sophia Parveen alias Rukhsar, was found at Patna’s Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) after being kept in the mortuary for four days. The shocking revelation came after her family from Bettiah identified her late Saturday night. Police say Sophia was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, who threw her from the third floor of their apartment in Danapur, before fleeing the hospital where he left her body.
Sophia, a resident of Bhangha Balua village in Bettiah, West Champaran, was studying nursing and working at a private hospital in Patna. Her sister, Shabana Khatoon, and other family members identified her body after seeing her photo in a news report circulated online. The family reached Patna on Saturday to complete formalities and collect the body.
Family in Shock: “He said he was a police officer and my sister’s friend”
Speaking to reporters, Sophia’s sister Shabana said, “My sister was studying and working in Patna. One day, she came home to Bettiah with a boy who claimed to be in the police force and introduced himself as her friend. He came in a Scorpio vehicle and stayed at our house for one night. The next morning, he took my sister back to Patna. Later, I saw the news that she had been murdered.”
Breaking down in tears, Shabana demanded justice: “Just as he killed my sister, he should be punished the same way.”
The family said they had taken good care of the man during his stay, unaware of his intentions. “He said he rarely gets leave from duty. We treated him like a guest, gave him a separate room, and trusted him completely,” Shabana recalled.
Murder Caught on CCTV: Boyfriend Seen Throwing Sophia from Flat
According to police, the accused and Sophia had been living together in flat number 306 at Soho Nirmala Apartments in Ashokpuri, RK Puram, Danapur. On September 30, the man allegedly threw Sophia from the third-floor balcony—around 65 feet high—following an argument.
CCTV cameras installed in a nearby school captured the entire sequence. The footage shows Sophia falling from the balcony and hitting the boundary wall of the school before landing on the ground. She reportedly died on the spot.
Accused Fled After Leaving Her Body at IGIMS
After the incident, the accused carried Sophia’s body to IGIMS, about seven kilometres from the apartment. CCTV footage from the hospital shows him arriving in an auto-rickshaw with the help of the driver, placing the girl’s blood-soaked body on a stretcher near the emergency OPD, and fleeing immediately.
Hospital staff alerted the IGIMS police outpost, and the Shastri Nagar police were later informed. Despite efforts, the man escaped before police could reach the spot. The girl died without receiving any treatment.
Fake Identity and Forged Documents
Investigations revealed that the accused had rented the flat on September 9 using a fake Aadhaar number. The landlord, Akhilanand Singh, told police that the flat was rented under the name Amit Kumar, son of Vimal Singh from Kesari Nagar, Patna. “The couple had identified themselves as husband and wife when they took the flat. The documents looked genuine, so I didn’t cross-check them,” the landlord said.
When the police verified the Aadhaar details, they found them to be fake. The girl’s mobile phone is also missing, raising suspicion that the accused may have destroyed evidence.
Body Identified Through News Report
The case came to light after Sophia’s childhood friend, Arju Khan, recognized her photo in a news article on October 3. “I saw the news on my phone and recognized Sophia immediately. I informed her sister without delay,” he told police.
Shabana said she was at her in-laws’ house when she got the call. “I left everything and rushed to my parents’ house. When I showed them the news report, everyone started crying. We informed the police and left for Patna to confirm the news,” she said.
Police Probe Underway
The Danapur police station has registered a case of murder and launched an intensive search for the accused. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team inspected the crime scene and collected samples from the apartment, where clothes and other belongings were found scattered.
Officials said efforts are being made to trace the auto driver who helped the accused transport the body. Police have also collected all available CCTV footage from nearby areas to track his escape route.
Victim Remembered as Bright and Ambitious
Sophia’s family described her as the “brightest and most cheerful” member of their household. “She dreamed of becoming something big and helping others. We were proud of her,” Shabana said, unable to hold back tears.
