The district police have prayed to the district court for permission to conduct DNA tests on the body, believed to be that of Sarita Kumari (35), found from an under-construction building in Kolhua Bajrangbali Vihar Colony of Muzaffarpur town on Monday.

The test is important to establish the body's identity and gender. The forensic team have collected skeletal remains and samples of chemicals littered inside the room at the under-construction house in Ahiyapur police station area where Sarita was allegedly burnt to death.

They also picked up a pair of slippers and a burnt chair.

The police found two suicide notes, where she alleges harassment from the landlord of the under-construction building she had rented for her work. She lived in her own house nearby. The notes have been handed over to the forensic team for examination.

On Wednesday afternoon, the team collected Sarita's handwriting from her office in Muraul block, where she worked as a junior engineer under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. "A police team visited the block office today (Wednesday) and collected details of Sarita's handwriting," Muraul block development officer Dipak Ram said. "The cops asked block officials if she had any enmity with anyone. But it looks like she bore no ill will towards anyone in office and was an able worker."

On senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vivek Kumar's directive, sub-inspector Dinesh Kumar has been made investigating officer of the case. Dinesh approached the district court on Wednesday, seeking its nod for the DNA test.

Deputy superintendent of police (City) Ashish Anand said two cellphones and four empty glasses smelling of liquor were recovered from the kitchen sink of Sarita's house. The police suspect she was killed in a cruel manner at her home before her remains were consigned to flames at the nearby under-construction house.

Investigating officer Dinesh has reordered statements of Sarita's husband Vijay Kumar Naik, her son Dhuruv Kumar and younger brother Rajiv Kumar, who works as a junior engineer at Barauni Oil Refinery.

The district police are also trying to get printouts of 13 cellphone numbers belonging to Sarita, her landlord and main accused Vijay Kumar Gupta and others with whom Sarita and Vijay used to talk often.

District Police on Wednesday forwarded Vijay in judicial custody.