HANGING CASE

1. Dr. Baishwanar Banerjee
Senior Resident
AIIMS Kalyani
1

2. 
 Hanging is defined as a violent asphyxia death due to constriction
of the neck as a result of suspension of the body by a ligature,
where the constricting force is the weight of the body
 Hanging should always raise the presumption of suicide unless
proved otherwise
 In India, hanging is among the top 5 methods of choice for
committing suicide
INTRODUCTION
2

3. 
 Deceased was a school teacher by profession
 Was married 2 years back. Wife was a staff nurse in Bolpur SD
Hospital
 14/10/2018– Deceased came to wife’s quarters at Bolpur
 16/10/2018– Deceased found hanging at his wife’s quarters
 Parents of the deceased informed about the incident at 6:00 AM
on 16/10/2018
CASE HISTORY
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4. 
 Father of the deceased went to the quarters occupied by wife where his
son’s body was found hanging
 Discovered bottles of wine and burnt end of cigarettes at the scene
 Father of the deceased suspected that his daughter in law had murdered
his son in connivance with other people
 Complained against his daughter in law at 4:15 PM on 16/10/2018 in
Santiniketan PS
 FIR registered on the basis of the complaint dated 16/10/2018 u/s 302,
120 B, 34 IPC
4
Contd

5. 
 SI of Shantiniketan PS took up the investigation
 Was transferred on 16/02/2019 and case taken up by different SI
 Father of deceased approached Calcutta HC alleging investigating
agency did not have the zeal to uncover the truth
 Alleged the postmortem report is questionable and no conclusive
opinion was obtained from the medical experts
 As per orders of Calcutta HC, DIG CID WB directed DDI, Birbhum DD,
CID, WB to take up the investigation into this case
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Contd

6. 
 Complainant felt that any medical board formed in Bolpur SD Hospital
would prejudice the findings as the accused was working as a nurse in
the same institute
 HC directed the Investigating Officer to obtain an expert opinion from a
body of medical experts associated with AIIMS Kalyani
6
Contd

7. 
 Fair in complexion. Apparel over the dead body include a white
colored dhoti
 Tongue protruded outside
 Eyes were closed
 Bluish discoloration of lips appreciated
 Ligature mark reddish brown in color, present over the neck
incompletely encircling the neck present above level of thyroid cartilage
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EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

8. 
 Well built well nourished.
 Rigor mortis present all over the body
 Cyanosis of fingernail beds, tip of nose, lips
 PM Lividity present over dependent parts of the neck above the ligature
mark and over dependent parts of both forearms and legs
 Oblique continuous ligature mark around neck from below one ear
lobule to other ear lobule. Skin underneath ligature mark brownish
black and parchmentized
 Other organs- congested
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AUTOPSY FINDINGS

9. 
 Petechial spots over visceral surface of pleura
 Hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage intact
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Contd

10. 
 DEATH WAS DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF HANGING AND IT IS
ANTEMORTEM IN NATURE. FURTHER OPINION AFTER
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF VISCERAE
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CAUSE OF DEATH

11. 
 Presence of any toxic substances could not be detected in the viscerae
samples sent to FSL, Kolkata
 Presence of ethyl alcohol has been detected in the contents of stomach
 Viscera material in advanced state of decomposition
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VISCERAE REPORT

12. 
 1. What is the actual time since death?
 2. What were the probable circumstances for causing such injury marks
mentioned in the PM report?
 3. From the chemical examination report it is revealed that the deceased
consumed ethyl alcohol. Whether it is possible for a drunken person to
commit suicidal hanging?
 4. Whether the injuries other than ligature mark mentioned in the PM
report were ante mortem? Whether they were homicidal or not?
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Questions raised by IO

13. 
 What is the actual cause of death?
 Any other points in the interest of the investigation
13
Contd

14. 
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ANSWERS TO QUERIES

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