Fiza: Police record lawyer’s statement, summon aide

More than three months after her mysterious death, the Mohali police has recorded a statement of city lawyer Ranjan Lakhanpal who had claimed that Fiza was apprehending a threat to her life.

In his statement, Lakhanpal has told the police that Fiza alias Anuradha Bali, the estranged wife of former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan, was apprehending a threat to her life. She had approached him (Lakhanpal) to file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high Court, seeking police protection.

Initially, the Mohali police had not recorded Lakhanpal's statement. However, more than a week back, the investigating agency came to Lakhanpal's residence and took his statement.

In a related development, Salim Alvi, a close aide of Fiza, has been summoned by the Mohali police. "I had received a phone call from one of the Mohali police officers around a fortnight back. The officer asked me to come to Mohali to get my statement recorded," Alvi, a social worker from Bulandshehar, told Chandigarh Newsline.

However, Alvi claims he has been receiving "strange" calls ever since he named a Lok Sabha MP. Days after Fiza's body was recovered from her residence in Sector 48 on August 6, Alvi said Fiza had named an MP and alleged that she had received threatening calls from the MP and his party workers.

Asked why he has not recorded his statement, Alvi said, "I requested the officer (who called) to send some police officers and take me to Mohali. Ever since I gave a statement to the press, naming the MP, I have been receiving calls from unknown people asking for my address and other details. I have requested the local police for protection. I do not trust anyone."

However, Alvi has decided to send his statement in writing to the Mohali police. "I have decided that I will send my statement in writing supported by an affidavit," he added.

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