Case registered, but cops not sure model was killed

Although evidence indicates that Bidushi Dash-Barde may have been murdered, police are sceptical about this.

Although evidence indicates that Bidushi Dash-Barde may have been murdered, police are sceptical about this.

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Bidushi Dash-Barde had a visitor in the morning, according to a housemaid, Ambubai Lavte, 65, who works in one of the building apartments. But the police are sceptical about her claim. They feel she could not have got a good look inside Vidushi’s home, as the flat’s glass door is nearly opaque.

“The house help just glanced through while on her way to the first-floor flat where she works. We are not sure how she could have seen someone inside the house,” said an officer.

Also, the building watchman Dharampal’s statement contradicts Lavte. He told police that no one visited the model in the morning. However, a man visited Bidushi’s house in the afternoon, Dharampal said. Police say he is a doctor and had visited Bidushi in connection with some cosmetic treatment Bidushi was undergoing. He left after getting no response despite knocking several times.

The police are now checking the 23-year-old aspiring model’s cell phone to find out if she got calls from any possible suspects. They are also checking through CCTV footage from security cameras in the Andheri apartment to see if the housemaid’s claim can be corroborated.

Police are still recording her husband Kedar Barde's statement.

Police also suspect that Bidhushi could have suffered a diabetic attack, fell on a glass shelf and bled to death. The last call she made on her mobile phone, at 8.12 am was to a nearby chemist. The shop was still to open then.

The police have ruled out forced entry.

Kedar Barde in his statement had told the police that Bidushi was diabetic and felt dizzy on several occasions in the past as well. An officer said, “Bidushi had an acute diabetes problem and we found several tablets in their home that she was prescribed for the ailment.

He added, “Keeping in mind these factors, we cannot rule out the possibility that Bidushi death could have been accidental. We are however investigating the case from all angles.”

DCP (zone 9) Pratap Dighavkar said, “ We have registered a case of murder and are investigating the matter from all angles. I cannot reveal anything more at this point.”