Wife of deceased husband rejects poisoning allegations, alleges property dispute conspiracy in Kokrajhar

Shiny Pal Brahma, the wife of late Rakesh Brahma, has strongly denied allegations that she poisoned her husband, claiming that the accusations are part of a conspiracy stemming from a long-standing family property dispute.

Addressing a press conference in Kokrajhar on Thursday, Shiny said the allegations made by her mother-in-law, Parbati Brahma, were baseless and intended to tarnish her reputation. She maintained that she had no role in her husband's death and alleged that tensions within the family over property matters had existed for a considerable period.

Shiny further claimed that following her husband's death, she was physically assaulted by members of her in-laws' family and was prevented from paying her final respects to the deceased. She also highlighted her personal circumstances, stating that she is now solely responsible for raising two young children, including a seven-year-old child and an infant only a few months old.

The controversy emerged after the death of Rakesh Brahma, a resident of Maibong Nagar in Kokrajhar district, who died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Guwahati.

According to allegations made by the deceased's family, Rakesh fell critically ill after consuming food that was allegedly laced with poison. He was initially admitted to MRM Hospital in Kokrajhar before being shifted to a hospital in Bongaigaon and later referred to Guwahati, where he succumbed during treatment.

Family members, including his mother Parbati Brahma, have alleged that Shiny Pal Brahma was responsible for administering the poison. The family also claimed that the deceased's wife acted out of suspicion regarding an alleged extramarital relationship involving her husband.

Parbati Brahma further alleged that she had earlier approached Kokrajhar Sadar Police Station with a complaint seeking intervention and justice but claimed that no action had been taken.

The allegations and counter-allegations have drawn significant attention in Kokrajhar, with both sides presenting conflicting versions of events. Police are yet to officially confirm the claims made by either party, and the exact cause of death remains subject to investigation.

Authorities are expected to rely on medical reports, forensic findings and the outcome of the ongoing investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Rakesh Brahma's death.