Mumbai compère’s death: Family writes to home department, seeks arrests

Arpita Tiwari’s family alleges the men in the flat tried to sexually assault her, wants rape charge added

The family of deceased anchor Arpita Tiwari has written to the state home department seeking swift arrests and demanding that inclusion of attempt to rape charge be added in the case.

Arpita Tiwari was found dead under mysterious circumstances on December 11 (HT FILE)

Tiwari’s sister Shweta wrote the letter addressing the home minister’s office.

In her letter, Shweta said that a few of the observations indicated that “it’s a clear case of murder by all four males” (who were in the flat when Tiwari’s body was found on December 11 in a high-rise apartment in Malwani). The letter said Pankaj Jadhav, Tiwari’s boyfriend, called Arpita’s sister Binita Tiwari and informed her about (Arpita’s) death “without any remorse or mourning”. Shweta further wrote that her family is “certain that the servant and another male present at the flat are also involved”.

“No money was found in her wallet. She always carried a good amount of cash with her. All men in the flat tried physical and sexual assault (sic). Arpita was out from the emotional bond with Pankaj but he was trying to exploit her with her friends. Arpita always misconceived their intentions and trusted all men. Arpita’s body was thrown down from the 15th floor of the building,” Shweta further wrote in the letter.

The family also demanded “earliest processing of post-mortem and forensic report. Include attempt to rape and outraging modesty charges in the FIR.”

Tiwari’s body was found in the duct of the apartment building on the second floor on December 11. The compère had gone to the 15th floor apartment at Manavsthal Heights with Pankaj and a mutual friend in the early hours. The friend stays at the apartment with three other roommates.

The police initially registered an accidental death report stating that Tiwari committed suicide. However, they soon registered a case of murder after Tiwari’s father insisted two days after the incident. The police have registered the case against unidentified persons. No arrests have been made so far.