Cuttack: In a twist to the mysterious death of popular television actor Nikita, her sister-in-law Sonam Sahu on Sunday said that contrary to media reports, father and brother of the deceased, besides her brother Lipan, were present on the terrace at the time of the incident.
She further claimed that Lipan had tried to save Nikita. “All of them tried to save Nikita when she rushed to the terrace in a fit of rage but their efforts went in vain,” she said, adding that her brother had narrated the entire incident to her.
Lipan told her that they had an argument inside the house and not on the terrace, she added.
The actor had fallen from the terrace of her parental house at Mahanadi Vihar on January 4 evening and died the following morning while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. Police had arrested Lipan on the basis of a complaint lodged by the actor’s father, alleging that he had pushed her off the terrace. He is now lodged in Chaudwar Central Jail.
Police had earlier told the media that investigation revealed that only Nikita and her husband were present on the terrace on the fateful day. Lipan too had admitted to a scuffle with the actor, but denied having pushed her off the terrace.
Sonam statement came a day after the Commissionerate Police put up a ‘latka’ (notice) at the house of her absconding in-laws, who have applied for anticipatory bail at Orissa High Court.
Refuting the murder charges levelled against her brother, she said he was completely innocent. “Had Lipan been the culprit, he could have easily fled the spot. Besides, Nikita’s family members have been frequently changing their statements which has complicated matters,” she said.
Sonam also questioned the delay on the part of Nikita’s family in filing the complaint against him.
After her marriage in November 2016, Nikita had moved out of her in-laws’ house and was staying in Bhubaneswar with her husband since August 2017. She moved into her parental house after the birth of her son, sources said.
