A day after cross-country woman biker Sana Iqbal died in a car crash, her mother has alleged that it was a "pre-planned murder" and blamed Sana's husband, saying he was trying to portray it as an accident.
The police, to whom Sana's mother has complained alleging that the incident was a pre-planned murder, however, maintained that it was a road accident.
29-year-old Sana Iqbal, who undertook a solo expedition to raise awareness about suicide and depression, died in the car crash while her husband, Abdul Nadeem, suffered injuries in the accident which happened early in the morning on Tuesday. Sana and Nadeem were heading home in Hyderabad's Tolichowki area at the time, the police said.
Nadeem, who was driving the car, lost control and the vehicle rammed the median on Hyderabad's outer Ring Road, Narsingi Police Station Inspector GV Ramana Goud said. A case was later registered for causing death by negligence and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the police said.
However, Sana's mother claims that her daughter has been murdered, and that it was deliberately being projected as an accident. "Yesterday, he (Sana's husband) planned it in such (a way)...and (later) gave it a turn as an accident. But, it was a pre-planned, well-organised and a cold-blooded murder," Sana's mother alleged.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madhapur zone) Vishwa Prasad told news agency that as per the preliminary investigation, it was a road accident and there was no suspicion over it. "Her husband has also suffered severe injuries after their car hit the median and turned turtle," the senior police officer said. He, however, said they will also verify the allegations being made by Sana's mother.
Inspector Goud said as per their investigation it was an accident. He said Sana's mother has complained to the police alleging it was a pre-planned murder and that they have told her and other family members to produce any evidence of it.
Last month, Sana Iqbal had sent a message from her phone to a few friends and family members purportedly saying her life was in danger and that her husband or in-laws should be held responsible in case she died of a heart attack or a brain stroke, the police official said.
"There may have been some dispute between Sana and her husband. The message was sent at that time and it has no connection with the road accident," Mr Goud said.
The Hyderabad-based rider hit the headlines a few years ago when she undertook the solo motorcycle expedition across the country.
The focus of her campaign was to educate people, particularly students, against committing suicide. She was also a professional trainer and a student of psychology, and had addressed thousands of students in colleges.
