Delhi air hostess Anissia Batra alleged suicide: From her last text to husband’s arrest, developments so far

Anissia Batra, a flight attendant with Lufthansa, allegedly jumped to her death from the terrace of her home in Delhi’s Panchsheel Park on July 13, 2018. She was rushed to a nearby hospital by her husband Mayank Singhvi where she was declared brought dead. Mayank told the police that he received a text from Anissia threatening to kill herself. But by the time he reached the terrace she had jumped. Her family alleged that she had been physically and mentally tortured by her husband for dowry. The family even filed a complaint with the Hauz Khas police last month. The family claimed that a flat in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar was sold off by her for Rs 1.2 crore which led to a friction between them as he had an eye on the money in Anissia’s account.

In a complaint filed by Anissia’s mother, she alleged that after the couple left for Dubai for their honeymoon, Mayank had beaten her daughter inside the hotel lobby on the second day of the honeymoon. Three days after Anissia’s death, Mayank was arrested on July 16 and was produced in a city court. He was then sent to the judicial custody for 14 days. The in-laws will be questioned after July 20. According to reports, Romil Baaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) said Singhvi’s parents have been granted exemption from joining the probe by the court till July 20 on personal grounds.

Batra’s last rites were conducted at the Lodhi Crematorium on July 17, 2018.

Recently discovered Mayank was a divorcee
The couple met on a matrimonial site and got married on February 23, 2016. It was only a month ago when the 39-year-old discovered that Mayank Singhvi was a divorcee and was upset about it. “He had not told her about his first marriage. After she found out about his earlier relationship, she was quite hurt. It is suspected that they must have had arguments over it,” a senior official privy to the probe was quoted by news agency PTI. Anissia’s mother, Neelam Batra, has also said Singhvi had concealed the fact that he was a divorcee.

Last text messages
An hour before her death, Anissia requested a close friend to call the police as her husband has locked her up. But since her friend was not in the vicinity she expressed her inability. Minutes before she allegedly jumped off from the terrace she sent her last text to her friend. The text says, “I am going to kill myself becoz Mayank has driven me to it. He finally let me out but I can’t repair what he has done.”

Father suspected her in-laws might harm her
In the complaint filed by her father in Hauz Khas police station on June 27, 2018, 15 days before the incident, he mentions how Mayank has been physically abusing her and how her in-laws have asked her to vacate her husband’s house. Her father also requested that she should be provided a secure telephone number in case of emergency. The letter also highlights the fact that her father suspects that her in-laws might harm her in the future and make it look like a suicide. He writes, ‘they may physically harm her and show it as an accident or suicide. Kindly note that any harm to her will be directly attributed to plans made by my son in law and his parents.’

Family suspects foul play
On July 16, Anissia Batra’s parents Maj Gen RS Batra (Retd) and Nillum Batra made a representation to the President of India and other authorities that highlights the loopholes in the investigation process. Some of the loopholes are:

• Despite her fall from the fourth floor, she did not sustain any external injury resulting in external bleeding.
• Her husband Mayank had spare keys of the house and even after the house being sealed he entered the premise.
• Her parents were not allowed to enter the house of the Singhvi’s as they were told it was sealed off. Batras claim that the Singhvi family was present in the house.

Petition
Anissia’s family and friends took to social media to seek justice for her. They have also started a petition on Charge.org to demand justice and swift police action in the case. Check the petition here.