Deceased model`s family accuses boyfriend of killing her

Mumbai: Family members of model-cum-actress Rinki Choudhary, who committed suicide, have accused her boyfriend of killing her.

The family members arrived here late last night from Kolkata and their statements are being recorded, the police said. Police sources said Rinky`s family has asked them to investigate the murder angle and have accused Sahil Malik of killing her. Rinky`s family also alleged Sahil was financially dependent on her and was forcing her for marriage. "We are probing the allegations made by Rinky`s family against her boyfriend," Surendra Paithankar, Senior Inspector at Goregaon police station, told reporters. Rinky, 28, whose real name is Sabnam Mandal, was found hanging from the ceiling by her boyfriend at her home in Vallabh Society in suburban Goregaon on Thursday. "The post-mortem report suggested that she died due to "squeezing of neck" which could have happened either because she hanged self or was strangulated. We are yet to come to a conclusion whether it is a case of suicide or murder," Paithankar adding the viscera report is awaited. Quoting Sahil, police said he was at her residence painting the bedroom walls on Thursday. As the paint fumes were irritating Rinky, Sahil told her to go to the kitchen, following which she went there and bolted the door from inside. "At around 6 pm, a courier delivery boy came to her residence with a letter addressed to Rinky when Sahil went to the kitchen to inform her. But she did not respond, after which Sahil called on her mobile phone but in vain," said the officer quoting Sahil. "Suspecting something fishy, Sahil broke open the door when he found her girlfriend hanging from the ceiling of the kitchen. Sahil brought her to the hall and splashed water on her face. When she did not respond, he informed the police," Paithankar said. Sahil`s ex-girlfriend, one Shyamli Jain, who was also a model in the city but is currently residing in Delhi, had objections to the proposed marriage and started frequently calling up Rinky for the past few weeks, police sources said. Jain was also summoned to the police station, sources said adding phone records of Rinky were being checked. PTI