Court Orders Reinvestigation into Congress Leader Sarla Mishra’s Mysterious Death After 28 Years

Bhopal, MP – After nearly three decades of persistent legal battle by her family, a local court has ordered a reinvestigation into the mysterious death of Congress leader Sarla Mishra, which occurred under suspicious circumstances on February 14, 1997, at her government residence in TT Nagar, Bhopal.

The decision comes after years of demands for justice by her brothers Anurag and Anand Mishra, who consistently questioned the original investigation. Initially, the police had termed her death a suicide and moved to close the case. However, the court found significant discrepancies in the police report and, recognizing the gravity of the matter, rejected the closure request and directed a fresh probe.

Sarla Mishra was a promising political figure with a strong background in law and journalism. A top graduate from Sagar University in LLB, she had turned down a job offer from the same university, declaring her intent to pursue a career in politics. She practiced as a registered advocate at the Bhopal Court and the Jabalpur High Court and was also known for her bold journalism, including a rare interview with bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi inside jail.

Her political journey began as President of the Seoni Chhapara Degree College, and she rose through the ranks in the Congress party, maintaining close ties with Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. According to family members, she was a regular visitor to 10 Janpath, Sonia Gandhi’s residence in Delhi.