Police seize half-burnt body of former MLA’s wife midway into cremation in Bhubaneswar

The Commissionerate Police on Saturday seized the half-burnt body of former Brahmagiri MLA Ajay Jena's wife from Satya Nagar crematorium in Bhubaneswar after relatives of the deceased alleged that the last rites are being performed by her daughter-in-law without conducting post-mortem.

As per the allegation, the daughter-in-law was performing the last rites of the deceased, identified as Ashrukana Pradhan (79), without informing the relatives and conducting a post-mortem. 

Acting on the complaint the police have seized the body and sent it for autopsy, sources informed.

Suspecting foul play, the brother of the deceased alleged, “My younger sister informed me about the death of my elder sister. I have not met my sister for the past one year as they did not allow me and my family members to meet her.”

“My nephew informed me about the passing away of my sister. I immediately reached the crematorium and found the body burning on the pyre. I informed the police as she was subjected to torture for the last one and a half months and was under house arrest,” alleged the sister of the deceased.

On the other hand, the daughter-in-law of the deceased refuted the allegations and said there is nothing wrong with whatever she had done.

“I took my mother-in-law to a private clinic where doctors declared her dead. Later, I carried the body to Satya Nagar crematorium and after verifying the documents, the last rites were performed. I informed about the death to my brother-in-laws. I don’t understand why I should report the death to the police,” said the daughter-in-law of the deceased.

“The deceased is around 76 years old. Acting on the written complaint filed by the sister of the deceased, we have registered a case and an investigation into the matter is on,” said a police official.