A woman believed to be dead — whose family even performed her last rites 18 months ago — has stunned everyone by returning alive in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district.
Identified as Lalita Bai, the woman walked into the Gandhi Sagar police station and confirmed that she was very much alive, throwing the entire village and legal system into turmoil. The twist is particularly shocking because four men — Imran, Shahrukh, Sonu, and Ejaz — had already been convicted and sent to jail for her alleged murder.
The case, which had been closed after a body presumed to be Lalita’s was found, has now been turned on its head. Lalita’s father, overwhelmed by her sudden return, immediately took her to the police station, where she recounted her harrowing ordeal.
Lalita explained that she had willingly left with Shahrukh to Bhanupara. However, things took a dark turn when she was allegedly sold to another man — coincidentally also named Shahrukh — for Rs 5 lakh. She claimed she was held against her will in Kota, Rajasthan, for nearly a year and a half before managing to escape and make her way home.
To confirm her identity beyond any doubt, Lalita presented her Aadhaar card and Voter ID. The police verified her identity further through family members and neighbors, who confirmed she was indeed the same Lalita they had mourned.
Gandhi Sagar police station in-charge Taruna Bhardwaj confirmed the turn of events, adding that senior officials and Thandla police — who handled the original case — have been informed. The next steps include reviewing the wrongful convictions, re-investigating the case, and determining how the mistaken identity led to the arrest and imprisonment of the four men.
The case now raises tough legal and ethical questions: Will the accused men be released immediately? How did the initial investigation conclude the wrong body was Lalita’s? And will Lalita’s alleged captors face fresh charges? The district is abuzz with outrage, sympathy, and a call for accountability, as authorities scramble to untangle the unprecedented mess.
