KSA: Indian cleared for murder charge
An Indian lady doctor, accused of poisoning to death her husband in Saudi Arabia after he reportedly converted to Islam, has been absolved of the charges after 10 months of detention which she described as a "nightmare".
Investigations into the death of her husband turned into a trauma for the 36-year-old Shalini Chawla, a woman doctor from New Delhi, as she had to face detention, while nursing her days old baby.
Chawla travails began when her husband Ashish Chawla died in sleep on January 31, and it was suspected that he had been poisoned by his wife, 'Saudi Gazette' reported.
But an initial medical report from King Khaled Hospital in Najran stated that the cause of death was "myocardial infarction" (or heart attack).
The report also certified that there was "no sign of any injury, crime, or fight".
But Saudi authorities apparently tipped off that the man had been murdered after he became a Muslim, detained the wife to conduct further investigations. The Indian lady doctor was detained with her then 34-day-old baby boy Vedant.
But even the second medical report from the Center for Toxicology and Forensics in Mecca also said the autopsy report did not confirm any poisoning, and yet the Indian doctor had to continue in detention.
She said, she had no idea who falsely informed the police that she had poisoned her husband. "I heard they were our colleagues but I don't want to know about them."
Chawla said that her husband never discussed his intention to embrace Islam. But after his death, his friends revealed that he had become a Muslim.
"During my interrogation, I heard that my husband died the night before he was going to announce officially in the mosque his conversion to Islam.
However, I did not find any proof of his conversion and his name is not registered in any Islamic center," she said.
As the lady doctor with young children remained languishing in detention, the Indian consulate swung into action. And the Indian consul general Sayeed Ahmed Baba met Amir of Najran on April 11 asking him that the case be closed and Shalini be allowed to go home.
The case was referred to headquarters of bureau of investigation and prosecution in the capital Riyadh which ordered a third autopsy by an independent panel of doctors who confirmed it was a heart attack.
The Saudi authorities finally closed the case on December 3 clearing Shalini of all charges and allowing her to leave the country with her children and the body of her husband.
She left Jeddah for home with the body of her husband and told 'Saudi Gazette' that he will be buried in a Muslim cemetery.
"My late husband died as a Muslim and his funeral will be held as per the Islamic rituals in New Delhi," Dr Shalini was quoted as saying by the paper.
On her ordeal a tearful Shalini said, "It was a nightmare, but thank God I'm going back home after a year of misery. I don't know what I will do next. It was just my fate to go through all of these hardships. May no one face what I have gone through".
Read more: Indian lady doctor cleared of murder of husband in Saudi Arabia, returns home - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Indian-lady-doct...
Well they spent so much time on this open and shut case case was just wondering if they have made any headway on the murders and abuses of the Indonesian housemaids out there or maybe they feel they can pick and choose how they go about this issues and manipulate them to their benefit
wellsaid mate
As a Muslim I feel uterly betrayed at the level of hypocracy...... and the country is supposed to portray a level of genuine "Arab and Islamic" ideals, sadly this is what is going on...... as well said by Ratan, if this is whats happeneing to a doctor imagine the labourers and maids, trully theres nothing that can be said but that this is utter shame and hypocracy! How sad when they claim to follow the principles of Islam and they are the worst of offenders in the world in terms of human rights and justice.....?
very sad indeed...... thank God she was sent free.....
Another Indian thread indeed....
But really, feel so sorry for the lady... No one deserves this...
Another Indian thread..:)
I feel sorry for the lady..:(
avatar and samiGel get a grip..
Saudia and their systems becoming more n more hillarious day by day
Let's forget about the crime for a minute, one thing is baffling me. The guy died on 31 January and on December 3, the case was close and she was allowed to leave the country with his husband body? What! the dead guy was not buried in almost a whole year? Have i got that right? Wallah, this is a big shame if I am correct!.
How on earth could the Saudi Authority allow a Muslim not to be buried for over 11 month? What a shame! I know this is a crimial case but then, are we not muslims supposed to bury our dead as soon as possible? How long does it take to conduct a post-mortem on the dead man? 1 year? Wow...so sad...I commiserate with the surviving spouse.
It is a Pitty that in spite of advanced technology and investigations people have to suffer and will this happen if they were europeans . such things must not happen in a well developed country.
The Cynthia Sommer's case. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Sommer
Alhamdullilah, Shalini Chawla was freed sooner than Ms. Sommer though! Indeed what a terrible ordeal this must be. To deal with the death of a spouse is never easy but to be then be falsely accused of his/her murder? horrible! but such things do happen the world over. Even mothers whose children have died of natural causes like cot deaths have been interrogated and even convicted of murder only to be released later when evidences eventually win over suspicions. justice? *sighs*
And as you know 'logos' is Greek and means 'word.' How are they to know?
That's Saudi "logic", or Indian "logic", Winn.
"During my interrogation, I heard that my husband died the night before he was going to announce officially in the mosque his conversion to Islam. However, I did not find any proof of his conversion and his name is not registered in any Islamic center," she said.
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She left Jeddah for home with the body of her husband and told 'Saudi Gazette' that he will be buried in a Muslim cemetery. "My late husband died as a Muslim and his funeral will be held as per the Islamic rituals in New Delhi," Dr Shalini was quoted as saying by the paper
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Am I missing something here?
It is sad that regional biases take place... such as 'he's from xyz place', 'he's from abc' etc...
Well, In spite of all this, We are all Indians... Like us or not, we'll always be there around this world :)
I just wonder what wud have been ur reaction if the lady was of ur nationality.
And as for people who hate Indians, please continue to do so.. Because:
Indians will still be the largest contributors to the Middle East growth and development...
Indians will still do the work many other nationalities' people won't do
No offense against other nationalities... This post ain't abt Indians v/s the others..Its abt Injustice... and since I can't change the original source story, I guess It was appropriate to report as is.
God bless you all... Do right, think right, act right.
avatar weren't you posting an article about India yesterday??? Lol..
Atleast this one happened in the gulf, your yesterday's post had nothing to do with this region.
this happens in saudi arabia, no surprise there!
hahahaa I agree with avatar...or at least block 65% of the members, I'm, sure it will be a more fun site without those indians in it
If a doctor can go through such ordeal, what would be the fate of ordinary expats who work in Saudi ? Dreaded country ! No one should go near it.
avatar2012 well said.
Another good reason to keep out of other peoples business and refrain from tattle tailing and shame of KSA for believing circumstantial evidence in spite of physical evidence to the contrary. I guess the tip off came from a man and the woman's word was worthless as usual.
Poor woman. I hope she sues.
what a misery she might have faced, she lost her husband also on the other hand she faced the nightmare as well, Oh my sympathy is with her.