It is now almost certain that Rizwanur Rehman’s body will be exhumed. According to forensic experts, a second autopsy on an exhumed body is fraught with more complications than the first one.
When a body is buried for a long time, it gets skeletonised experts say. In addition, the soft tissues may disintegrate. For this reason, further forensic examination has then to depend on bone injuries, unlike the first autopsy where both soft tissue injuries and bone injuries can be analyzed.
"It is best if the body can be exhumed within a few days for a second autopsy. If soft tissues are destroyed, only bone injuries can be detected. Both types of injuries - soft tissue as well as bone - are vital for forensic examination. Nevertheless, broken bones - like in the jaw and neck - can still be traced and could help to arrive at a decisive conclusion," says Dr Parag Barun Paul, professor of forensic medicine at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Rizwanur Rehman,27, a resident of Kolkata was found dead shortly after his marriage to 23-year old Priyanka Todi, daughter of Ashok Todi, one of Kolkata’s richest and most influential businessmen.
Priyanka, decided to marry her Rizwanur, her graphics design tutor, against the wishes of her family.
Yet a month after the two eloped Rizwanur was found murdered near the railway tracks in Dum Dum area of Kolkata on September 21,2007.
It has been alleged that on the behest of Ashok Todi, top police officials threatened Rizwanur with dire consequences unless he divorced Priyanka. It has also been brought to light that on October 2, 2007 Snehashish Ganguly had introduced Ashok Todi to the city Police Commissioner as well as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Prasun Mukherjee.