6 days after Mumbai compère’s death, cops remain clueless

Investigators said the case is proving to be a challenge owing to inconsistencies in the statements of people being questioned

Six days into the investigation of compère Arpita Tiwari’s death, the police seem to have come away empty-handed. Tiwari was found dead in a high-rise society in Malwani on Monday under mysterious circumstances.

Six days into the investigation of compère Arpita Tiwari’s death, the police seem to have come away empty-handed. (HT File)

Investigators said the case is proving to be a challenge owing to inconsistencies in the statements of people being questioned, such as Tiwari’s boyfriend Pankaj Jadhav, his three friends and a house help. Two people told the police they had a lot to drink on Monday and had passed out. The police have also learnt that before arriving at the complex, Tiwari had called Jadhav and their mutual friend and had made dinner plans where they had drinks.

The 19-year-old cook also allegedly retracted his previous statement, in which he had hinted at the possibility of Tiwari being molested by one of the men present at the apartment on Monday night. He later said he had made this statement out of fear.

On the day of the incident, one of the friends woke up at 7am, found the bathroom door locked and assumed she was inside. However, another friend said he had woken up at 5 am and had found the bathroom door shut. The police will rely on the timing of Tiwari’s death to ascertain what time Tiwari fell from the 15th floor.

Initially, Jadhav told the police that his friend woke him up when Tiwari did not open the door even at 7.30 am. The police also have multiple unanswered questions. “There was an open balcony. The theory of someone pushing her out of the bathroom window seems a little out of place. We are probing all possible angles,” said an officer, requesting anonymity. While the police were previously investigating it as a case of suicide, they filed a case of murder after Tiwari’s father approached them with the complaint on Wednesday.