In a significant development regarding the death of Faizan Ahmed, a 24-year-old student from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, new forensic evidence suggests foul play. This revelation comes after a second autopsy, commissioned by the Calcutta High Court, shed new light on the circumstances surrounding his death, originally reported in 2022.
Ahmed was discovered dead in his hostel room in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district on October 14, 2022. The initial assumption was suicide, but discrepancies raised by Ahmed’s family led to a deeper investigation.
The first investigation by the college authorities concluded that Ahmed had committed suicide. However, his parents suspected foul play and petitioned the Calcutta High Court for a more thorough investigation. The court responded by authorising the exhumation of Ahmed's body to re-examine the case.
A second autopsy performed by forensic expert Ajoy Kumar Gupta, a retired officer from the West Bengal Crime Investigation Department, has now provided critical insights. Gupta's findings, released earlier this month, indicated that Ahmed suffered severe trauma inflicted by blunt objects, stabbing, and a gunshot wound near his left ear. These findings starkly contrast the initial suicide conclusion, suggesting that Ahmed was indeed murdered.
In June 2023, Gupta's preliminary examination concluded that Ahmed succumbed to hemorrhagic shock, caused by significant bleeding. Further, a detailed analysis in May 2024, after reviewing the Central Forensic Science Laboratory reports, revealed additional chilling details: the right temporal styloid process was missing, the left styloid process had turned black, and there was blood evidence near the mandible and second cervical vertebrae. Gupta stated these injuries likely resulted from a stabbing on the right side and a gunshot wound inflicted at close range below the left ear.
The initial post-mortem, conducted on October 15, 2022, had failed to pinpoint the cause of death conclusively. In contrast, the second examination, performed in May 2023 in Kolkata, provides compelling evidence of homicide. Gupta's detailed report is expected to be presented to the Calcutta High Court next month.
As the final report is awaited, Faizan Ahmed's family continues to seek justice for their son, hopeful that the new findings will prompt a re-evaluation of the case by the authorities.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
