Lucknow police on Monday night recovered the body of 85-year-old Dr Sarojini Kapoor, a retired teacher from Sainik School, under circumstances that have raised questions and prompted a formal investigation. Dr Kapoor was the mother of Brigadier Akhilesh Kapoor, who is currently posted in another city. Authorities said that the incident came to light after Brigadier Kapoor, unable to reach his mother despite repeated calls through the night, contacted relatives living in Lucknow and requested them to check on her.
When the relatives arrived at her residence, they found the main door locked from the inside, leading them to suspect something was wrong. They immediately alerted the local police, who arrived at the scene within minutes. Unable to gain access through the front entrance, officers entered the house by breaking open a door via the terrace. Inside, they discovered Dr Kapoor lying motionless in the prayer room. Her body was later sent to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Preliminary information from family members suggests that Dr Kapoor had been struggling with multiple health issues for some time, including heart-related problems and respiratory ailments. As recently as Saturday, she had complained of breathing difficulties. Her husband, Manohar Kapoor, had passed away 11 years ago, and since then she had been living alone, assisted by a maid who visited daily to prepare meals and help with household chores.
Just a day before the tragedy, Dr Kapoor had visited her brother’s home in Chowk’s vegetable market area to celebrate Rakshabandhan. She tied a rakhi to her brother and spent time with family members before her nephew, Vimarsh Rastogi, dropped her back home in the evening. Relatives recall her being in relatively good spirits during the visit, though she did mention feeling tired.
Police sources said that while there were no immediate signs of forced entry or struggle, the circumstances of her death remain unclear. Investigators are not ruling out any possibilities until they receive the autopsy report, which will confirm whether her death was due to natural causes or if foul play was involved. Officers are also speaking to neighbours, relatives, and the domestic help to piece together her final hours.
The case has stirred local attention, given Dr Kapoor’s respected standing in the community as an educator and the prominence of her son in the armed forces. For now, the family is awaiting official findings, while police continue to examine every angle to ensure that no detail is overlooked in uncovering the truth.
