Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Flight attendant’s husband arrested for ‘dowry death’

The parents of Anissia Batra, who hailed from Chandigarh, have alleged that her husband was abusive

- Shiv Sunny

The abuse began during the couple’s honeymoon itself. Singhvi beat Anissia up in the room and lobby of the hotel where they were staying. She had to move to safety at a friend’s place and returned to India alone. NEELAM BATRA, Anissia’s mother

NEW DELHI: Three days after 39-year-old flight attendant Anissia Batra allegedly jumped to her death from the terrace of her home in south Delhi’s Panchsheel Park, the police on Monday arrested her husband who is accused of harassing her for dowry.

Mayank Singhvi was arrested on Monday evening after an hour of questionin­g. His wife’s family had earlier alleged lapses and laxity in the police probe.

In the first informatio­n report (FIR), Singhvi’s parents, too, have been accused of harassing Anissia, but the police said there was not enough evidence to arrest them.

Anissia’s parents have alleged that Singhvi was an abusive husband since the beginning of their marriage. However, Romil Baaniya, deputy commission­er of police (south), said the fights in the recent months were over the proceeds of a flat that Anissia had sold recently.

Another investigat­or quoted Anissia’s parents, who claimed that the flat in south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar was owned by their daughter and she had sold it for ₹1.2 crore in February.

The outrage by Anissia’s parairline. ents forced the police to seek a second autopsy that was videorecor­ded on Monday.

“We issued a look-out circular against Singhvi and his parents to ensure they did not escape, we are analysing the bank accounts of the couple and have seized their BMW car, a diamond ring and their mobile phones,” said Baaniya, deputy commission­er of police (south). A forensic team was recalled to construct the sequence leading to the death.

On Monday, Baaniya maintained that the probe so far has indicated that Anissia had “jumped” to her death and not killed as alleged by some of her relatives.

A native of Chandigarh and daughter of a retired Indian Army major general, Anissia worked for Lufthansa, a German “In February 2016, she had married Singhvi, who worked for a research firm before bagging a senior position with a real estate company. His father is a chartered account and the family owns two houses in Panchsheel Park,” said an investigat­or.

Anissia’s mother, Neelam Batra, said that Singhvi was a divorcee but had concealed it all this while.

“The abuse began during the couple’s honeymoon itself. Singhvi beat her up in the room and lobby of the hotel they were staying at. She had to move to safety at a friend’s place and returned to India alone,” alleged Neelam in her complaint to the police.

 ??  ?? Anissia Batra
Anissia Batra

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