Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Skeleton is that of Sandhya Singh' that was published in Newsband

Skeleton is that of Sandhya Singh

DNA taken matches with that of her son

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The Kalina forensic laboratory has revealed DNA test reports, which confirms that the skeletal remains found near the Navi Mumbai lake are those of Sandhya Singh.

The remains were earlier sent to JJ hospital for cleaning, and were sent to the forensic laboratory. Priority was given to these tests and analysis of the remains was done immediately. The DNA from the samples was checked against that of Singh’s son to see if there was a match. The DNA report confirmed that the skeleton is that of Sandhya Singh since the DNA taken from the bones matched with that of Sandhya's son Raghuveer. Some serious injury marks on her bones indicate that a sharp and heavy object was used to chop her body.

The bone extracts matched with those of the son. Earlier Singh’s family members had identified several items such as the wig found near the remains as that of Singh’s. Her skeletal remains, a rudraksh, cardboard containing bloodstains and two samples of soil were also sent to the laboratory. The family had also submitted a dental cast of Sandhya to police. The cast reportedly matched the teeth in the skull. Thus it is clear that Sandhya was victim of a brutal murder and dismemberment.

Thus the crack team from Mumbai crime branch has finished with their preliminary probe. Since Sandhya Singh’s skeletal remains and belongings were found at Nerul marsh, the team had visited that place first. The team also had visited the NRI police station and Sandhya's house at Nerul's Seawood's Estate (NRI Colony).

Currently, the police are going through the call detail reports (CDRs) since the past six months of the cellphones of the deceased, her son Raghuveer and husband Jai Prakash Singh and others related to her.

It was only after some film delegates, including relatives of Sandhya, met home department officials and demanded to transfer of the case to Mumbai Crime Branch, that the case was transferred.

Sandhya's brother, music composer Lalit Pandit had expressed his gratefulness to home minister R R Patil for the sensitivity he displayed in handling this case.

The police have now officially registered a murder case and they are doing the further investigations.