The Calcutta High Court has ordered the exhumation and a second post-mortem examination of a young woman’s body, who died under suspicious circumstances at her matrimonial home in Murshidabad. The order comes amid allegations of foul play, discrepancies in the police inquest, and irregularities in the first post-mortem report.

Facts:

The matter arises out of the death of Fatema Khatun, a young woman from Raghunathgunj, Jangipur, Murshidabad, who allegedly faced continuous harassment, physical abuse, and dowry demands from her husband and in-laws.

On April 29, 2025, her father received a phone call from her in-laws stating that she was unwell. Upon reaching her matrimonial home, he discovered Fatema hanging from a ceiling fan in her bedroom.

Dissatisfied with the inquest and the initial post-mortem, which recorded “no external injuries” despite visible signs of trauma, her father, the petitioner, alleged that the investigation had been improperly conducted and sought a fresh post-mortem.

He argued that the inquest and medical reports were inconsistent with the photographs and physical condition of the body that he personally witnessed.

The case was registered as Raghunathganj Police Station Case No. 573/2025 dated 29.04.2025. Although a charge sheet had already been filed, the petitioner approached the High Court seeking justice and a fair investigation.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, after examining the photographs, video recording at the time of Surathal (Surat-i-hal), and hearing arguments, noted serious inconsistencies.

The Court observed: “...as according to the petitioner the inquest and the post-mortem report were not inconsonance with the physical appearance of the dead body of the deceased which the petitioner saw with his own eyes. Certain photographs have been enclosed which the petitioner claims to have been taken at the relevant point of time when the dead body of the deceased was hanging from the ceiling fan.”

“Considering the fact that in the post-mortem report the Autopsy Surgeon categorically recorded “no external injuries” and there were no reflection of any blunt trauma, I am of the view that a second post-mortem is called for in the circumstances of the present case.”

The Court issued directions that the exhumation be supervised by the A.C.J.M., Jangipur, in the presence of the investigating officer, the accused, and the relatives of the deceased.

Additionally, the second post-mortem was to be conducted at AIIMS, Kalyani, and the report was to be submitted in a sealed cover to the Court.

The matter will next be heard on August 29, 2025, when the second post-mortem report will be placed before the Court.

Case Status: Isha Sekh VS Superintendent of Police, Jangipur Police District & Ors. W.P.A. 14334 of 2025