Lady doctor tortured to death by husband, alleges her family

Mystery shrouds the death of Dr Swetapadma Mishra who allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a multi-storey building here as the 44-year-old doctor's family alleged that she was tortured by her husband, a charge he denied.
While family members of Swetapadma, a gynaecologist, alleged that their daughter was tortured for dowry and forced to commit suicide, her husband Arijit Mohapatra, also a doctor by profession, rejected the charge for her death yesterday, police said.
"The investigation is still wide open. We have finished the first round of interrogation of Dr Swetapadma's in-laws. We have also talked to a few of her neighbours. Though prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide, we are not ruling out any possibility at this stage," Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyabrata Bhoi told reporters.

The DCP, however, denied chances of anyone pushing Swetapadma off the terrace.
"The parapet on the terrace is almost waist-high. It is not possible for one person to push somebody from behind. It would need a minimum of 5-6 persons," he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner RP Sharma visited the Banalata Apartment where the deceased gynaecologist used to live with her in-laws and conducted an on-the-spot examination for any possible clues to the mysterious death.