Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh rushed to the capital from his parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh over fear that his wife Jagriti may harm their three-year-old son if he failed to return following the domestic help’s death, sources said on Friday.
Dhananjay and Jagriti were arrested on Tuesday after domestic help Rakhi Bhadra was found dead with multiple injury marks at their South Avenue government flat on Monday. Another domestic help told the police that the 35-year-old died of due to physical torture by Jagriti. Sources said that after being briefed over phone by Jagriti on Monday morning, Dhananjay initially expressed his discontent over the incident and refused to return as he planned to stay in his parliamentary constituency in Jaunpur for some more days.
“Dhananjay told Jagriti to deal with the situation herself saying that he had some urgent work in Jaunpur,” sources said. However, as Jagriti showed her violent streak during the telephone conversation, Dhananjay decided to return keeping in mind his son Vishrut Arjun Singh's well being. Dhananjay then took a flight back to Delhi.
The couple’s son is currently staying at Dhananjay’s rented flat in South Avenue with his private security officers. The MP stayed separately from his wife at this house, but also regularly visited Jagriti's house in South Avenue. Jagriti, who is presently under police custody, has asked the police if she could meet her son. “We have no problems in letting a mother meet her son,” said a senior police officer.
It has also come to light that Jagriti used to assault her 38-year-old domestic help Meena Sardar over suspicion of an illicit relationship with Dhananjay. These disclosures were made by Meena before a magistrate who recorded her statement at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. “She told the magistrate that Jagriti would beat her and accuse her of being in an illicit relationship with Dhananjay,” the officer added. Meena has denied the allegations and asserts that it was Jagriti’s manner of justifying her regular beating.
The police suspect that Jagriti could have levelled similar allegations against Rakhi. At present, Meena is under treatment at the hospital for injuries inflicted by Jagriti. In her statement, she has revealed disturbing details about how Jagriti used to assault her. Meena told the magistrate that she was treated worse than an animal for the year that she was confined in the house. “When Meena begged for forgiveness, Jagriti ignored her plea,” sources added. Jagriti faces charges under murder, attempt to murder and wrongful confinement, while Dhananjay has been booked for concealing evidence.