Medical aspirant’s death: Hostel owner arrested as probe widens

Patna: In a major development in the death of an 18-year-old medical aspirant at a girls’ hostel in Patna, police arrested the building owner on Thursday after the post-mortem report stated that “sexual violence cannot be ruled out”.

Police said they received information that the girl, who was preparing for NEET, was found unconscious in her hostel room and was rushed to a private hospital for emergency treatment. On the basis of a statement by her father, a case was registered on Jan 9. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to another hospital, where she died during treatment on Jan 11.


The investigation took a crucial turn after the post-mortem report was received on Jan 14, indicating that sexual violence could not be ruled out. This contradicted the initial findings of a female gynaecologist, who had stated on record that there were no signs of sexual violence or assault at the time of admission.

City SP (east) Parichay Kumar said it has not yet been proved that the arrested building owner committed any wrongdoing. “The gynaecologist who examined the girl after admission recorded that there were no signs of sexual violence or assault. However, the post-mortem report later mentioned that sexual assault cannot be ruled out,” he said.

“Given the seriousness of the matter, police immediately arrested the building owner to prevent tampering with evidence. As per the probe, he was present at the hostel when the girl was found unconscious inside her locked room,” the SP said.

Detailing the timeline, Kumar said, “On Jan 5, the girl came from her home in Jehanabad to the railway station. We obtained railway station footage. She reached the hostel in about 35 minutes, which is also on record. She stayed in the hostel thereafter, and on Jan 6, she was admitted to the hospital.”

He added that police are also probing the possibility that something may have happened to the girl in Jehanabad. “The post-mortem report will be sent to a higher medical facility for a second opinion,” he said.

Kumar added that injury marks mentioned by the victim’s parents were also recorded in the medical report.

Earlier, police had suspected suicide after sleeping pills were detected in urine tests and recovered from the room, with no immediate signs of foul play. However, the family’s allegations of rape, murder and a cover-up led to widespread protests in the state capital. On Jan 12, family members and locals staged a protest at Kargil Chowk by placing the body on the road.

Students and activists also protested over hostel safety for women, prompting the Bihar State Women’s Commission to take suo motu cognizance of the case. Police also registered a case after masked persons resorted to stone-pelting and arson outside the hostel, and an investigation is underway.