SC notice to M.P. govt. in suspicious death of Dalit woman, murders of two family members

The Supreme Court on January 22, 2025, issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government seeking its response on a petition demanding a CBI or SIT investigation into the death of a 20-year-old Dalit woman and alleged murders of her brother and uncle in Sagar district.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government seeking its response on a petition demanding a CBI or SIT investigation into the death of a 20-year-old Dalit woman and alleged murders of her brother and uncle in Sagar district.

A Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar, hearing a petition filed by Anjana Ahirwar’s mother on Wednesday, sought the State government’s demands of moving the investigation out of Madhya Pradesh and police protection for the victim’s family.

Anjana, a resident of Sagar’s Khurai town, had died in May 2024 after she allegedly fell from an ambulance that was carrying the body of her uncle who had been allegedly thrashed to death just days ago. Her 18-year-old brother had been allegedly murdered by a group of men after he did not reportedly agree to “settle” a 2019 case of molestation against them by Anjana, and their mother was also allegedly stripped and beaten in August 2023.

The uncle, who died in May last year, was also a witness in the 2023 murder of Anjana’s brother.

Anjana’s death had created a massive uproar with Congress and other Opposition parties targeting the BJP government over atrocities against Dalits and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visiting the family and assuring justice.

While the Sagar police have ruled out any foul play in Anjana’s death, the family has rejected the police claims. The police have also arrested several men in connection with the two alleged murders.

The family has, however, long accused the police and authorities of shielding the accused who, they claim, are linked to BJP MLA and former State Minister Bhupendra Singh.