Hazaribagh: Kushagra Rudra Rana, husband of Jharkhand High Court advocate Anushka Chakraborty, whose body was found under suspicious circumstances in Hazaribagh on October 22, surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Thursday.
Confirming the development, Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rupesh Kumar Singh said the police would seek the accused’s custodial remand for interrogation.
Rana had been absconding since the incident, prompting police to launch search operations in Jharkhand and two other states. Authorities had also initiated proceedings to cancel his passport and arms licence and freeze his bank accounts as part of efforts to trace and apprehend him.
Anushka’s body was found hanging inside Flat No. 304 of Gupta Complex in Hazaribagh on October 22. Following her death, her family accused Rana and his relatives of dowry-related harassment and murder, demanding a thorough investigation and justice for the deceased advocate.
Rana and his family members reportedly went into hiding after the incident. Meanwhile, Anushka’s family approached the Jharkhand High Court, which directed that the investigation be conducted by a police officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank.
Husband rejects allegations in social media video
Shortly before surrendering, Rana released a video on social media denying the allegations against him and blaming his wife’s family for the circumstances surrounding her death.
He alleged that his father-in-law frequently interfered in his business affairs and pressured him to appoint him as a director in the company. Rana also claimed that he faced financial pressure and was coerced into handing over money and valuables.
In the video, he referred to Manoj Mahto, a representative of Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi, alleging that ₹7 lakh had been transferred from the company’s bank account and another ₹10 lakh paid in cash in connection with a purported promise of influence in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination process.
Rana also claimed that marital differences developed over what he described as his wife’s close association with another woman advocate during their stay in Ranchi.
These allegations made by Rana have not been independently verified. They also remain separate from the accusations made by Anushka’s family and will need to be examined as part of the investigation.
Police are expected to seek Rana’s custodial remand for further questioning as the investigation into the advocate’s death continues.
-IANS