Anushka Chakraborty, an advocate at the Jharkhand High Court, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Thursday, 23 October 2026, inside her residence at Flat No. 304, Gupta Complex, Bengali Para area, under Hazaribagh Sadar police station limits. Her body was discovered hanging from a noose, and her family has categorically termed the death a premeditated murder, levelling serious allegations against her husband, who has not appeared before police since the incident.

Family Alleges Murder, Demands Arrest

Relatives of Anushka Chakraborty have refused to perform her last rites until her husband is arrested and the circumstances of her death are officially established. They have warned of an indefinite sit-in protest outside the local police station if swift action is not taken. Family members have also claimed that Chakraborty had on multiple occasions informed them about alleged harassment and serious marital discord with her husband prior to her death.

According to Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi, who visited the postmortem facility at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital on Friday, the victim had spoken to her mother shortly before the incident and had disclosed details of grave marital disputes. Devi backed the family's demand for a high-level probe and called for videography of the full post-mortem process to ensure transparency.

Protests Erupt Across Hazaribagh

Relatives, fellow lawyers, and local residents staged protests in Hazaribagh on Friday, demanding the immediate arrest of the husband and a high-level investigation. Tensions escalated at the medical college and hospital premises, where grieving family members, lawyers, and Congress workers engaged in heated exchanges with police and administrative officials present at the site.

A second post-mortem examination was conducted on Friday following requests from the victim's family and after completing the required legal formalities — a step that reflects the family's deep mistrust of the initial process.

Key Details of the Husband's Movements

Preliminary investigations have revealed that it was the victim's husband himself who first informed police about the incident by calling the emergency helpline. He reportedly told officers that he was in Palamu at the time and was on his way back to Hazaribagh. However, he has not presented himself before police since making that call, prompting investigators to initiate search operations.

Mukesh Kumar Rajak, in-charge of the Bara Bazar police outpost, confirmed that raids are being conducted to trace the husband and stated that he is expected to be taken into custody soon.

Investigation Ongoing, Cause of Death Awaited

Police have stated that the exact cause of death will be determined only after the viscera examination and the final post-mortem report are received. Authorities confirmed that all possible angles are being examined and that further legal action will be taken based on evidence gathered during the investigation. The case has drawn political attention and growing public scrutiny, with demands for a transparent and high-level inquiry intensifying by the hour.

This comes amid rising concerns over the safety of women professionals in smaller cities and the pace of police response in cases where the accused is a family member. The next critical development is expected when the post-mortem and viscera reports are made available to investigators.