Scribe's mother arrested, police probe honour killing angle

Pathak's mother, Subha, was arrested on murder charges. Earlier, Subha and her husband Dharmesh were detained for questioning after the post mortem report indicated that Nirupama's death was caused by asphyxia as a result of smothering, SP Kranti Kumar said.

"We have arrested her under Section 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 120 b (criminal conspiracy) of IPC based on circumstantial evidence," Kumar said.

Asked whether it was a case of honour killing, the SP said, "The matter is under investigation."

According to the post mortem report there was a ligature mark around her neck pointing to strangulation with a rope.

He said the police were misled by the family who had said Nirupama died of electrocution on April 29.

The police were also investigating whether her father, who was a bank employee in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district, was at home at the time of the incident.
The parents of the 22-year-old journalist were reportedly opposed to her marrying Priyabhanshu Ranjan, her batch mate at IIMC, who belongs to another caste.