VARANASI: Five days after body of Bhojpuri actress Akanksha Dubey was found hanging in a hotel room here, men in khaki have made little progress in the case as both accused could not be traced till Thursday. Akanksha’s mobile phone, which might contain vital evidence, has been sent to forensic science laboratory as the investigators failed to unlock it.
Amidst ongoing investigation by the police personnel of Varanasi Commissionerate, family of Akanksha raised demand for a CBI probe into the case. “I have not been shown any CCTV footage and I don’t know who had accompanied Akanksha to the hotel that night. Video clips of the party she had gone to was not shown to me either, hence I am demanding a CBI probe,”said Madhu Dubey, the mother of Akanksha.
Asked about the progress in the ongoing investigation, additional commissioner of police (crime & headquarters) Santosh Kumar Singh said, “The postmortem report had confirmed that the Bhojpuri actress’s death was caused by hanging. It is a case of suicide as no injury marks were found on her body.”
He added, “Teams engaged to arrest those accused of abetment to suicide, Bhojpuri singer Samar Singh and his brother Sanjay, are carrying out raids at all their possible hideouts in Varanasi, Azamgarh and other cities of the country but the duo has not been arrested so far. Both accused are not using their registered cellphone numbers, which is making it difficult to trace them. Investigating officials are trying to find out if the two have fled the country.”
Singh said, “Collection of vital evidence got delayed as Akanksha’s mobile phone could not be unlocked by the investigators and it has been sent to forensic science laboratory.” He expressed hope that details retrieved from the mobile phone could bring to light crucial facts in the case.
Investigators have not shared with the actress’s family details about the person who brought Akanksha back to the hotel from a birthday party on March 25 night and who even stayed with her for some time.
Madhu Dubey said, “We suspect local police officials are hiding facts to protect the persons responsible for Akanksha’s death, so we are demanding CBI probe.”
Akanksha was found dead in her room at Sumendra Residency hotel in Sarnath area of the city on Sunday, March 26. At 2.25 am on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The actress had, earlier, gone live on Instagram and was seen weeping. After lodging an FIR against Bhojpuri singer Samar Singh and his brother Sanjay Singh under section 306 (abetment of suicide) on March 27, her mother alleged that Akanksha worked with Samar for three years but he did not pay her the remuneration. Dues on Samar had crossed Rs 3 crore, the complainant alleged. Whenever Akanksha sought her payment Samar tortured and thrashed her and he also used to harass her whenever she tried to work with other artistes, she added.
Amidst ongoing investigation by the police personnel of Varanasi Commissionerate, family of Akanksha raised demand for a CBI probe into the case. “I have not been shown any CCTV footage and I don’t know who had accompanied Akanksha to the hotel that night. Video clips of the party she had gone to was not shown to me either, hence I am demanding a CBI probe,”said Madhu Dubey, the mother of Akanksha.
Asked about the progress in the ongoing investigation, additional commissioner of police (crime & headquarters) Santosh Kumar Singh said, “The postmortem report had confirmed that the Bhojpuri actress’s death was caused by hanging. It is a case of suicide as no injury marks were found on her body.”
He added, “Teams engaged to arrest those accused of abetment to suicide, Bhojpuri singer Samar Singh and his brother Sanjay, are carrying out raids at all their possible hideouts in Varanasi, Azamgarh and other cities of the country but the duo has not been arrested so far. Both accused are not using their registered cellphone numbers, which is making it difficult to trace them. Investigating officials are trying to find out if the two have fled the country.”
Singh said, “Collection of vital evidence got delayed as Akanksha’s mobile phone could not be unlocked by the investigators and it has been sent to forensic science laboratory.” He expressed hope that details retrieved from the mobile phone could bring to light crucial facts in the case.
Investigators have not shared with the actress’s family details about the person who brought Akanksha back to the hotel from a birthday party on March 25 night and who even stayed with her for some time.
Madhu Dubey said, “We suspect local police officials are hiding facts to protect the persons responsible for Akanksha’s death, so we are demanding CBI probe.”
Akanksha was found dead in her room at Sumendra Residency hotel in Sarnath area of the city on Sunday, March 26. At 2.25 am on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The actress had, earlier, gone live on Instagram and was seen weeping. After lodging an FIR against Bhojpuri singer Samar Singh and his brother Sanjay Singh under section 306 (abetment of suicide) on March 27, her mother alleged that Akanksha worked with Samar for three years but he did not pay her the remuneration. Dues on Samar had crossed Rs 3 crore, the complainant alleged. Whenever Akanksha sought her payment Samar tortured and thrashed her and he also used to harass her whenever she tried to work with other artistes, she added.