PATNA: What began as a friendship between two civil services aspirants and culminated in a love marriage has ended in a case involving alleged murder, dowry harassment and an extramarital affair.Police on Wednesday arrested a woman sub-inspector (SI) posted in Begusarai in connection with the death of 29-year-old Amrita Kumari, wife of Jale block development officer (BDO) Manoj Kumar. Investigators are probing the SI’s alleged role in the case, with police claiming she was Manoj’s girlfriend.The arrest came a day after Manoj was arrested from the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga border. The SI, Annu Kumari, was apprehended from her native village in Sitamarhi district.According to police, Manoj and Amrita met in 2015 while preparing for the BPSC examination. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship, and they entered into a court marriage in 2020. After Manoj was selected as a BDO in 2022, the couple solemnised their marriage with the consent of both families in 2023.Investigators said the marriage later turned sour after Manoj allegedly entered into a relationship with the woman SI, leading to frequent domestic disputes. Police said Amrita opposed the affair and was allegedly subjected to sustained mental and physical harassment. Her brother also alleged the affair in the FIR.Amrita was found unconscious at her Muzaffarpur residence on the night of July 4 and was taken to a private hospital. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to another hospital but died on the way.Following her death, her brother Rajkumar filed an FIR on July 5, accusing Manoj of killing Amrita over his alleged relationship with the SI.The FIR also alleges that around a year after their marriage, Manoj, along with his parents, brother and sister, began demanding Rs 10 lakh as dowry. When the demand was not met, Amrita was allegedly harassed. It further claims that after she confronted her husband over the alleged affair, the harassment escalated and she was administered an intoxicating substance on the night of July 3 before being killed.Apart from Manoj, his parents, brother and sister have also been named in the FIR.Mithanpura SHO Ajay Kumar said the SI is being questioned and further details will be shared after the investigation. Police have seized two mobile phones from Manoj, and their call detail records and other digital evidence are being examined.“The investigation is focused on the dowry allegations, the alleged affair and the circumstances leading to Amrita’s death,” the SHO said.
