Cal HC transfers probe into death of businessman's wife to CBI

Expressing dissatisfaction with the progress of a probe into the unnatural death of a Raniganj businessman's wife, the Calcutta High Court today transferred the case to the CBI.

The woman, Pushpa Bhalotia, died on October 5, 2017. The West Bengal CID was conducting the investigation into the case after taking over it from the local police.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha directed that the case be transferred to the central agency.

The 39-year-old woman was found burnt at her residence in Raniganj area of West Burdwan district and was taken to a private hospital in Durgapur, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Her husband, Manoj Bhalotia, a well-known businessman, and her in-laws claimed that Pushpa had committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

However, the post-mortem report revealed that there was a bullet injury on her forehead which could have been the reason for her death, apart from the burn injuries.

Asking how she could shoot herself and then set herself on fire or vice versa, Pushpa's brother Gopal Agarwal had filed a murder case against Manoj and his family.