Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh – In a startling twist, a woman who was presumed murdered and buried over a year ago has returned home, leaving authorities scrambling to reassess the case. The alleged victim, Lalita Bai, walked into a local police station, confirming that she was alive—despite her family having conducted her last rites 18 months ago.
The incident, which unfolded in Mandsaur district, has raised serious concerns about the initial police investigation, particularly as four individuals had been arrested and jailed for her alleged murder.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
According to reports, Lalita had gone missing nearly a year and a half ago. During the search, police recovered a mutilated and decomposed body, making facial identification impossible. Convinced that the remains belonged to Lalita, her father, Ramesh Nanuram Banchhada, identified the body based on a tattoo on the hand and a black thread around the ankle.
Following this misidentification, the family conducted funeral rituals, and authorities proceeded with a murder investigation. Subsequently, four individuals—Imran, Shahrukh, Sonu, and Ejaz—were arrested and jailed in connection with her "murder."
The Truth Emerges: Lalita’s Ordeal
After 18 months, Lalita unexpectedly returned to her village, shocking her family. Her father, overwhelmed by her reappearance, immediately took her to the police station to report the error.
Detailing her ordeal, Lalita revealed that she had left with Shahrukh to Bhanupara, where she stayed for two days. However, she was then sold to another man, also named Shahrukh, for ₹5 lakh. Forced to live in Kota for nearly 18 months, she eventually escaped and made her way back home.
To confirm her identity, Lalita provided official documents, including her Aadhaar and Voter ID. Her two children, who had long believed their mother was dead, were overjoyed at her return.
Police Investigation and Legal Implications
Gandhi Sagar police station in-charge Taruna Bhardwaj confirmed that Lalita had visited the station a few days ago, verifying her identity with the help of family members and neighbors.
Senior officials and Thandla police station authorities have now been informed of the shocking development, raising questions about the initial investigation and the wrongful imprisonment of the four accused.
With the case taking an unexpected turn, authorities are now reassessing the murder investigation, seeking to determine the identity of the real victim, and reviewing the circumstances that led to the misidentification.
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