News Anchor Aman Chopra who screamed “Ashraf, Ashraf” in Mahalaskhmi case, now tight-lipped
Accused Mukti Ranjan Roy was found dead in Odisha
Bengaluru/New Delhi: Aman Chopra, a prominent news anchor with News18 India, is under fire for attempting to communalize the tragic murder of a woman in Bengaluru. The body of Mahalakshmi, 29, was found chopped into 59 pieces inside a refrigerator at her residence on September 21, shocking the city and sparking intense media coverage.
In the early days of the investigation, Chopra focused on Mahalakshmi's acquaintance, a man named Ashraf, attempting to link the crime to what he suggested was a broader pattern of "love jihad," a term used by some to allege that Muslim men target Hindu women in relationships to convert them. On his prime-time show, Chopra repeatedly stressed Ashraf's name, insinuating that the crime had religious undertones.
However, the investigation took a turn when the prime suspect, Mukti Ranjan Roy, was found dead in Odisha. A suicide note discovered near his body revealed that Roy had a close relationship with Mahalakshmi and that a heated argument between the two had led to her death. The note also detailed Roy’s subsequent actions, including dismembering the body and fleeing Bengaluru.
Despite this development, which clearly pointed to a different suspect, Aman Chopra has remained conspicuously silent. His earlier attempts to communalize the case by drawing parallels with the high-profile Shraddha Walker murder case—where the accused was a Muslim—have now come under scrutiny.
This is not the first time Chopra has been criticized for such coverage. In previous instances, he has been accused of using similar tactics to inflame communal tensions by focusing on the religious identity of suspects in unrelated crimes. Critics argue that such coverage not only distorts the facts but also exacerbates divisions in society.
As the investigation into Mahalakshmi’s murder continues, authorities in Bengaluru and Odisha are working to piece together the full story. Meanwhile, the backlash against Chopra’s handling of the case has sparked debates about responsible journalism and the dangers of communalizing criminal cases.
News Anchor at Ambani's Channel @News18India was screaming "Ashraf" and trying to communalise the unfortunate death of Mahalakshmi, Now that it is clear that the accused is Mukti Ranjan Roy, @AmanChopra_ has gone back to his holes. pic.twitter.com/Gh7KHQiDz2
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 26, 2024
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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
