A disturbing incident unfolded in Madhya Pradesh as sub-divisional magistrate Nisha Napit fell victim to a tragic murder at the hands of her unemployed husband, Manish Sharma. The crime, characterized by a chilling attempt to hide evidence and mislead authorities, has shocked the community.
The unfortunate incident occurred in Shahpura, Dindori district, where Nisha Napit served as a sub-divisional magistrate. Manish Sharma, driven by resentment over financial matters, allegedly smothered his wife with a pillow. The motive behind the murder, as revealed by the police, was Sharma’s dissatisfaction with not being named as the nominee in Napit’s service book, insurance, and bank account.
After committing the heinous act, Sharma took steps to erase any trace of his crime. He washed Nisha Napit’s blood-stained clothes to eliminate potential evidence. The police investigation uncovered the chilling details, including the discovery of a pillow cover and bedsheet in a washing machine at the bureaucrat’s residence.
The gravity of the situation escalated when Nilima Napit, Nisha’s sister, accused Manish Sharma of murdering her sibling. Nilima asserted that Sharma subjected Nisha to financial harassment and torture. She vehemently refuted Sharma’s attempt to portray the death as a result of natural causes, pointing to a history of physical and mental abuse.
“He used to harass Nisha for money. My sister did not have any disease. Manish has done something wrong. He even didn’t let the house help enter Nisha’s room,” claimed Nilima Napit, shedding light on the alleged torment her sister endured.
The 45-year-old Manish Sharma has been taken into custody, and the police have registered a case against him under sections 302, 304 B, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The arrest followed meticulous investigative work, considering witness statements, the post-mortem report, and examination of the crime scene.
Nisha Napit and Manish Sharma had entered matrimony in 2020 after connecting through a matrimonial site. Nilima Napit revealed that the family was unaware of the wedding initially, learning about it much later. The couple’s relationship took a tragic turn on Sunday when Sharma took Nisha to a hospital around 4 pm, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police, upon receiving the news of her death, promptly reached the hospital to initiate an investigation. Manish Sharma attempted to portray the death as a result of a kidney ailment, providing a fabricated narrative to authorities. However, Nisha Napit’s sister dismissed his account, expressing confidence in her belief that Sharma was responsible for her sister’s demise.
Despite Sharma’s detailed story about Nisha’s health issues, the police found inconsistencies in his statements. Sharma claimed that Nisha was fasting on Saturday and vomited at night, which he attributed to her kidney ailment. The next day, she didn’t wake up, leading him to call for medical assistance.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mukesh Shrivastava commended the investigating team for their swift resolution of the case within 24 hours. As a recognition of their efforts, a reward of ₹20,000 was announced for the team.
The tragic killing of Nisha Napit sheds light on the persistent issue of domestic violence and the need for addressing financial disputes within relationships. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of raising awareness about domestic abuse and providing support systems for those facing such challenges. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community grapples with the loss of a dedicated bureaucrat and the broader implications of domestic violence within households.