Four-year-old's drawing shocks Jhansi: Alleged murder of woman by husband exposed

 Uttar Pradesh: In a shocking turn of events in Jhansi, a four-year-old girl's drawing has cast doubt on the claims that her mother, Sonali Budholia, died by suicide. The drawing suggests her mother was brutally murdered by her husband, Sandeep, following years of alleged harassment and abuse. The police have launched an investigation into the case, suspecting foul play.

Child's illustration challenges suicide claim

A tragic incident in Jhansi has raised alarm bells over domestic violence, with a four-year-old girl’s drawing now being a crucial piece of evidence in a case that was initially believed to be a suicide. Sonali Budholia, a 27-year-old woman, was found dead at her home in Panchavati Shiv Parivar Colony on Monday. Her in-laws had initially claimed that she had died by suicide, but her daughter Darshita's chilling testimony and drawing have led police to suspect foul play.

The drawing, reportedly made by Darshita, depicts her father, Sandeep Budholia, assaulting her mother, followed by a statement from the child claiming that her father killed her mother and staged it as a suicide. "Papa assaulted and killed mummy. He then said 'die if you want to'. He hanged her body and hit her head with a stone. Later, he brought down the body and dumped it inside a sack," Darshita told the media while showing the illustration of the alleged incident. She also revealed that her father had previously threatened to harm her mother, and his behavior towards her had been abusive for years.

Troubled marriage, alleged abuse revealed

The couple, married in 2019, had a troubled relationship. Sonali's father, Sanjeev Tripathi, explained that his daughter had faced continuous harassment over dowry demands and gender bias, particularly after the birth of a daughter. According to Sanjeev, Sandeep’s demands for a car were not met, leading to increased violence and harassment. Despite filing a police complaint earlier, the situation reportedly worsened, and Sonali faced further abuse.

The tragic series of events unfolded when Sonali attended a cousin's wedding in Samthar, Jhansi, only to be called back home by her husband, Sandeep. The next day, Sonali’s family received news that her health had deteriorated, and soon after, they were informed that she had committed suicide. However, suspicions arose when Darshita’s drawing and statement contradicted this narrative, leading the family to accuse Sandeep of murder.

Police investigate as family alleges murder

The police have sent Sonali’s body for an autopsy, and the report is awaited to confirm the cause of death. Kotwali city police officer Ramveer Singh confirmed that a murder investigation is underway. "We received a call about the woman's death under mysterious circumstances. Her family alleges that she was murdered, and we are probing the case," Singh said.

The investigation continues, with police focusing on the possibility of domestic violence as a motive for the crime. The heartbreaking testimony of a four-year-old girl and the family's allegations have brought the issue of dowry-related abuse and violence to the forefront, raising crucial questions about the safety and well-being of women in domestic settings.