Patna, April 4: In yet another twist to the grisly murder of Suman Barnwal in Lakhisarai on March 25 evening, Suman's cousin Khushboo, who along with Suman's husband Naresh Barnwal has been accused of hatching the plot, on Tuesday admitted to have missed her two periods.
Suman was killed allegedly by road robbers when she, accompanied by husband, brother and brother's wife, was on way to Jamui from Rajgir. After her brother alleged Naresh's complicity in the crime so as to marry Khushboo, police arrested the duo. They were remanded in judicial custody and have since been lodged in the Lakhisarai jail.
According to Lakhisarai civil surgeon Dr Sakaldeo Chaudhary, Khushboo made the revelation to jail doctor Vipin Kumar during routine medical examination. She has been advised pregnancy test. "Once we get the court's permission, a gynaecologist will conduct the pregnancy test and, if need be, ultrasound on her," Dr Chaudhary told TOI over phone on Tuesday evening.
A jail official said unmarried women undergo medical tests once they are brought to jail. Khushboo also talked about having taken pills to prevent pregnancy, he said and added unless it was medically confirmed, she could not be said to be pregnant.
But if the tests indeed confirm pregnancy, police - already under pressure to show evidence to support their 'jeeja-saali' theory behind the killing - will cite it as a strong motive behind the murder. "Of course, we will. The pregnancy will prove Naresh and Khushboo urgently needed to tie the knot to which Suman would have never agreed as she had been opposing talks even over phone between them," a police officer said.
So far police claimed to have nabbed, besides Naresh and Khushboo, one of the seven criminals who intercepted the Barnwals' vehicle on the fateful evening. But sources said yet another arrest was made on Tuesday from a neighbouring state. He will be produced in the court on Wednesday.
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