Madhya Pradesh PWD Minister Rampal Singh's daughter-in-law Preeti committed suicide at Udaypura town in Raisen district late on Friday night. Preeti was married to Girijesh Singh, Rampal Singh's younger son.
When the suicide note and marriage certificate of the deceased went viral on the social media, the Minister told media persons that he did not know the deceased. He also demanded a thorough investigation in the whole incident including the marriage certificate.
While police officers and Rampal Singh's family members remained tight-lipped about the incident, a suicide note and a marriage certificate issued by an Arya Samaj Temple in Bhopal's Nehru Nagar began floating around in social media on Saturday.
Preeti was found hanging in her maternal house in Udaypura town on Saturday morning. In the suicide note, she told her family not to blame anyone for the suicide and asked her family to remain united and happy after she leaves them.
Raisen district Superintendent of Police Jagat Singh Rajput said, “The woman hanged herself at her (parents') house (in Udaipura) late last night. Investigation is on.” He refused to comment when asked whether Minister Rampal Singh's son had anything to do with the incident.
Sources, however, said that Preeti got married to Girijesh in June 2017 and Rampal Singh's family was not happy with the alliance. The deceased never lived with her husband's family or husband and was living at her maternal house ever since.
There was, however, talk of Rampal Singh's son getting engaged to another girl a few weeks ago. It is being assumed that the engagement had made Preeti upset and was the immediate trigger for suicide. Minister Rampal Singh and Preeti's maternal home are in close proximity in Udaipura town.
The suicide has already acquired political tones with the Congress demanding registration of a case against Rampal Singh.
Her family, her father, brother and uncle, also shared the contents of her suicide note with reporters, and alleged that the Minister was responsible for her death as he was marrying off his son to another woman.
The family members also said they would not accept her body after autopsy, as the minister's family should take its possession.
In the suicide note, Raghuvanshi asked her parents to forgive her and not to fight over the issue (of her husband remarrying), saying they had already suffered a lot because of her.
“The Congress demands that a case of abetment to suicide be registered against the minister and his son. Since he can influence the probe, the minister should be removed from his post immediately," said KK Mishra, Congress spokesperson.
With the assembly in session owing to the budget session, the issue is likely to be taken up on Tuesday when the assembly reconvenes after a break.