British woman found dead in Delhi: Accident or murder? Police hunt for clues as new details emerge

Delhi Police

An 85-year-old British woman, initially thought to have died from a fall at her home in central Delhi, was actually strangled, according to a postmortem report. The revelation has turned a presumed accident into a murder investigation that has left authorities scrambling for clues.

The case concerns Pauline Crowther Ann, a long-time resident of the quaint House No. 7 on Jantar Mantar Lane. She was reported dead at a city hospital on July 30.

From accident to murder



As per TOI, the initial assumption was that Ann had succumbed to injuries from a fall. Police who visited the spot noted the presence of blood, which seemed to support this theory.

Her family, which includes her son, daughter-in-law and grandchild, arranged her last rites and a prayer meeting on August 10. At the time, none of her relatives expressed any suspicion about the circumstances surrounding her death.

However, the autopsy report, received a month and a half later, delivered a shocking finding. It concluded that the cause of death was strangulation. Based on this report, the Delhi Police have now registered a murder case at the Connaught Place police station.

A family’s silence and a police puzzle



The investigation is being led by Devesh Mahla, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for New Delhi. When approached, the family reportedly declined to comment, stating only that “the cops are probing the case.”

Police inquiries revealed that Ann frequently travelled between the UK and India following the death of her husband, who was an Indian national. She had been in Delhi for the past one to two months before her death.

According to a police officer, the incident came to light when Ann’s housemaid discovered her unconscious in her room and alerted other family members.

Scrutinising access and motive

The location of the crime adds to the mystery. The house is situated in a high-profile neighbourhood with significant foot traffic. The front portion of the property contains a political party office, making the area one of constant movement.

Despite this, police said that the possibility of an outsider being responsible appears bleak. This assessment is based on the absence of any signs of a forced entry into the home.

Investigators are now focused on determining a motive. They are meticulously scrutinising Ann’s acquaintances to ascertain if someone known to her could have carried out the crime. CCTV footage from the area is being examined for any leads.

The Delhi Police have informed the British High Commission about the murder. In a significant step to solidify the evidence, authorities have requested the formation of a medical board to analyse the autopsy findings further. A forensic analysis of the viscera is also awaited.