Police to question Nirupama Pathak's fiance, friends

The police would soon question Priyabhanshu Ranjan, the fiance of Delhi-based journalist Nirupama Pathak who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her home in Koderma district last week in suspected honour killing, and her other friends.

"We have sent three teams to Mumbai, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to interrogate Pathak's friends including Ranjan," Koderma Superintendent of Police, G Kranthi Kumar, said.

The police will also search her room in Delhi and interrogate her roommate, Kumar told PTI.

The police were collecting evidence before questioning other family members of Pathak, he said.

The police were also waiting for the report of the forensic department which had collected some documents including a 'suicide note' from her house in Tilaya yesterday.

Pathak, a Brahmin, was found dead on April 29 in her home. She was stated to be planning to marry Priyabhanshu Ranjan, her former IIMC, Delhi, batchmate, a match her parents did not approve of because of his lower caste.

The post-mortem report revealed that Pathak died due to asphyxia as a result of smothering and there was a ligature mark around her neck pointing to strangulation with a rope.

Suspecting that it could be a case of honour killing, the police have arrested Pathak's mother Subha who is now in judicial custody.