Odisha actor Nikita’s death: In-laws given 7 days to depose before police

Cuttack: The Twin City Commissionerate Police has given a time of seven days to the in-laws of deceased Odisha tele actor Laxmipriya Behera alias Nikita to depose before the Chauliaganj police in connection with the death.

Nikita’s father-in-law Lingaraj Sahu and mother-in-law Kuntala Sahu had absconded after her death. Police had then put up a ‘latka’ (notice) at the residence of her in-laws on January 12 asking them to appear before it.

However, they failed to appear before the police citing reasons on ‘health ground’. They had on January 19 sought an additional time of 15 days from the Chauliaganj police to appear before it.

Police, on the other hand, have turned down their request and restricted the time limit for deposition to seven days.

Nikita’s husband Lipan Sahu has already been arrested and sent to the Choudwar Jail after the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Cuttack rejected his bail application on January 8.

On January 4, the couple had entered into a scuffle after a quarrel between the two following which Nikita fell down from the terrace and died, Cuttack DCP Akhilesvar Singh had said adding that police are yet to establish whether the husband pushed his wife to death from the terrace or she fell during the scuffle.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by Nikita’s father Sanatan Behera, a case has been registered under Section 302, 498 (A), 306 and 34 of IPC. Lipan’s parents have also been booked under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act as Nikita had earlier twice complained of torture and violence being faced by her while staying in her in-laws’ house at Gopalpur.