Mishel Shaji Varghese was not poisoned: Report

Kochi: CA student Mishel Shaji Varghese was not sexually assaulted nor poisoned, according to the chemical analysis test report the Crime Branch received. The development made the probe into the death of the 18-year old more complicated. Though the CB probe till now substantiates the police version that the girl had committed suicide, they are yet to explain what “prompted” her to take the extreme step. As per the report, no traces of poison or any chemical was found in her body and that her stomach was filled with river water. The test also confirmed she was not subjected to any sexual assault, sources said.

The girl’s father had the other day gave a statement before the CB that he suspected his daughter to have been kidnapped by certain rackets indulged in providing all facilities to tourists arriving by luxury boats and that she might have got killed while resisting it. Meanwhile, the sleuths are now pinning their hopes on scientific examination of the mobile phone of Cronin Alexander, reportedly her lover for over two years, who was arrested on abetment charges, to find out the reason behind the girl’s “suicide”,

The report is expected later this week. They had the other day charged him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POSCO). The cops suspect Cronin’s role behind the suicide as the two had conversed with each other many times on the day of her disappearance besides texting. However, while Cronin reportedly deleted some select messages on his phone, the sleuths’ attempt to recover the mobile phone and bag of Mishel failed.