Kamal Ghorui
Trigger warning: This article mentions death and sensitive details. Reader discretion is advised.Samar Singh and his brother Sanjay Singh have been served notices by the Allahabad High Court in connection with the death of a Bhojpuri actress, Akanksha Dubey, who was found dead in a Varanasi hotel room on March 26, 2023.
Akanksha Dubey’s mother challenges suicide theory, demands CBI probe
Though police initially ruled it a suspected suicide, the case has been thrust back into the spotlight nearly three years later. The development comes after the actress’ mother filed a petition firmly rejecting the suicide theory, demanding a CBI probe, and alleging that her daughter was murdered. Her petition has not only challenged the original police findings but also cast a serious shadow over the manner in which the case was investigated.
Allahabad High Court directs SHO Sarnath to submit counter affidavit
According to Hindustan Times, the Allahabad High Court has directed both the accused to file their responses to the petition. Additionally, the Station House Officer of Sarnath has been asked to submit a counter affidavit, with the court making it clear that non-compliance will result in the officer being summoned to appear in person before the court on May 22.
What police said when Akanksha Dubey’s body was found?
When the actress’ body was first discovered at a hotel in Varanasi’s Sarnath area in 2023, police were cautious about drawing any firm conclusions. While early findings seemed to point in the direction of suicide, officials made it clear that nothing could be confirmed until the post-mortem report was in. “The prima facie report suggests it might be a case of suicide. But we have to wait for the post-mortem report to be sure of the cause of the death,” an official had stated at the time.
Akanksha Dubey’s distressing Instagram live sparks public outrage
The case took a deeply unsettling turn in the days after her death, when a video of the actress in visible distress began circulating widely on social media. Adding to the fascinate, reports emerged that she had gone live on Instagram shortly before she died. Clips showing her in tears, her face buried in her hands, spread like wildfire online, sending public speculation into overdrive and leaving many deeply troubled about the circumstances surrounding her final moments.
Samar Singh arrested, later granted bail in Akanksha Dubey death case
In April 2023, police arrested Samar, widely reported to be the actress’ rumoured boyfriend, along with his brother. The arrests followed a complaint lodged by the actress’s family, who alleged harassment, criminal intimidation, and abetment to suicide. Samar spent several months behind bars before being granted bail in November that year. However, the case continued to remain under investigation, and as the recent High Court development shows, it is far from closed.
No suicide note found, family’s fight for justice continues
The fact that no suicide note was found at the scene had always kept doubts alive, and authorities confirmed the same. Now, with the Allahabad High Court stepping in and the family’s push for a CBI probe gaining ground, the case is once again in the spotlight.
