Arpita Tiwari’s friend backs away due to ‘pressure’

Mumbai: One of Arpita Tiwari’s friends, who used to accompany her in parties had recorded a statement earlier this week, but due to some ‘pressure’ has withdrawn her statement, said a source close to the investigation. Malvani police who are probing the death of a 24-year-old compere-cum-anchor Arpita Tiwari have no strong leads despite questioning the two prime suspects almost daily. The police solely blame the discrepancies in their statements and hence have no headway.

A police source said that the deceased’s friend, whose name has been kept under wraps had herself approached the Malvani cops earlier this week and volunteered to give an insight into the anchor’s life. In her statement, the friend had said that Arpita had some major problems with her boyfriend Pankaj Jadhav (30), and on various occasions the two had a fight, and she was witnessed how he abused her. The friend added that Jadhav seemed very possessive of Arpita and often tried to manipulate her clothing style, pointing out what to wear and what not to wear.

However Tiwari’s friend withdrew her statement days after the recording it as she was pressurised by her mother. Apparently when Tiwari’s friend had come to record the statement, her mother accompanied her to the police station and created a ruckus by shouting and screaming, pleading her to not get involved in such police matters.

The police are probing the case and have registered a murder case against unknown persons. No suicide note was recovered from the spot.