Mayawati described the alleged killing as “extremely tragic” and said the circumstances had created serious concerns about public safety. She argued that people were justified in asking how ordinary citizens could feel secure when the family of a senior police officer could face such an incident. She urged the state government to take the matter seriously and ensure strict legal action if criminal involvement was established.
The case has, however, become more complex following the post-mortem examination. Ambedkar Nagar police said a three-doctor panel found no injury marks or other evidence that could prima facie establish murder. The heart and viscera have been preserved for scientific testing, and investigators are awaiting further examination to determine the precise cause of death.
Indravati, Mishra’s elderly mother, was found unresponsive on a cot at her house in Rudha Dhamrua village under the Malipur police station area. She had been living alone following her husband’s death. A domestic helper discovered her and alerted relatives living nearby. Mishra, who is posted in Lucknow, subsequently travelled to the village.
Suspicion of foul play emerged after the family noticed that jewellery normally worn by Indravati was missing. The items were said to include a gold chain, nose pin, earrings and anklets. Other household property did not appear to have been disturbed, raising questions about whether the missing ornaments were linked to her death.
Mishra lodged a complaint against unidentified people, alleging that intruders had entered the house, robbed his mother and killed her. Police opened an investigation covering possible robbery and homicide, while forensic teams examined the premises and senior officers inspected the scene. Blood noticed around Indravati’s lips had initially strengthened suspicions about unnatural death, although investigators reported no visible external injuries.
The chronology given by police indicates that a relative initially believed Indravati might have suffered a heart attack. Police were later informed of her death, and the investigation widened after Mishra arrived and the family identified the missing jewellery. The post-mortem was conducted with videography because of the questions surrounding the circumstances.
Police have stressed that the absence of evidence of homicide in the initial medical examination does not end the investigation. Histopathological analysis of the heart is expected to help determine whether cardiac arrest or another medical condition caused the death, while the viscera examination could detect other factors. Investigators are also examining the family’s allegation concerning the jewellery.
The incident swiftly acquired political significance. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also expressed concern over the death and questioned public security when the mother of a senior police officer could die under such suspicious circumstances. The responses from the two opposition leaders have placed the case within a broader political debate over crime and policing in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati’s intervention carries particular significance because Ambedkar Nagar has long been an important political area for the BSP. Her comments focused on the public perception created by the incident rather than the still-unresolved medical question surrounding Indravati’s death. She called on the government to ensure a credible investigation and action against anyone found responsible.
(IPA Service)
