The viscera and autopsy reports of Bhojpuri actress Amrita Pandey, popularly known as Annapurna, have confirmed that her death in April 2024 was not a suicide but a premeditated murder by strangulation, dealing a major blow to initial police assumptions and reigniting the investigation seven months later. The 30-year-old actress, found hanging from a ceiling fan in her family's flat at Divya Dharma Apartments under Jogsar police station, was initially believed to have taken her own life due to career-related stress in the competitive Bhojpuri film industry. However, forensic analysis revealed ligature marks inconsistent with self-inflicted hanging, the absence of poison in her system, and signs of asphyxiation from manual force, prompting authorities to register a formal murder case against unidentified persons on Saturday.

Pandey, who had returned to Bhagalpur from Mumbai for her sister's wedding on April 18, 2024, and stayed behind while her husband, Chandramani Jhangad—an animation engineer—headed back, was discovered by her sister, Veena, around 3:30 p.m. on April 27. No suicide note was found, but her phone contained cryptic WhatsApp messages hinting at personal turmoil, including frustrations over sparse roles despite collaborations with stars like Khesari Lal Yadav in films such as Deewanapan. The postmortem, conducted at Bhagalpur Medical College and Hospital, and subsequent FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) examination ruled out poisoning, with the viscera report—received recently—explicitly stating no toxic substances were present, shifting focus to the cloth noose's strength and knotting pattern as potential staging evidence.

Bhagalpur SSP Anand Kumar, who formed a special probe team immediately after the discovery, confirmed the murder registration based on these reports, emphasising re-examination of family members, call records, and WhatsApp chats. "The ligature marks indicate external pressure, not self-asphyxiation, and the absence of struggle signs suggests she may have been overpowered quickly," Kumar told reporters, adding that mobile data from her device could yield crucial leads on suspects. Police have summoned Jhangad and other relatives for questioning, while forensic experts analyse the scene for overlooked fingerprints or DNA traces, amid speculation of personal enmity or industry rivalries.

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The case has stunned the Bhojpuri entertainment circuit, where Pandey was celebrated for her versatile roles in blockbusters, ads, web series, and TV, amassing a dedicated fanbase despite Mumbai's cutthroat competition. Tributes poured in from peers like Khesari Lal Yadav, who shared emotional posts mourning her as a "talented soul lost too soon". Women's rights groups have flagged the incident as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities faced by actresses navigating isolation and professional pressures, demanding a swift CBI handover if local leads falter.

With the murder FIR under IPC sections for homicide and evidence tampering, Jogsar police aim to crack the case within weeks, vowing comprehensive CCTV reviews from the apartment complex and neighbourhood enquiries. As Bhagalpur grapples with the tragedy's shadow, Pandey's untimely end—far from the silver screen glamour—highlights the darker undercurrents in regional cinema, urging better support systems for artists far from home.

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