Rupam’s father-in-law Krishanand Pathak. Picture by Amit Kumar

Purnea, Jan. 5: Rupam Pathak — the 43-year-old principal of Rajnish private school and accused in the murder of MLA Rajkishore Keshari — is now being called the Lady Macbeth of Chunapur.

“We have no relation with her for the past four years. We do not know anything about her private life,” said Krishanand Pathak, Rupam’s father-in-law.

Krishanand, a retired sub-divisional education officer, said Rupam, daughter of Naresh Mishra from Bharampur village under Naugachia sub-division of Bhagalpur, had spent the first few years after her marriage with her husband Ashok Pathak at Imphal in Manipur.

Ashok, a schoolteacher, still resides in Imphal with their children.

Earlier, Rupam’s son used to live with her on the premises of her school. But Ashok took him away a few months ago. The relation between the two is strained, said the father-in-law.

“We do not know the exact status of the relation between Rupam and my son. But you can easily understand what it is, considering the fact that the two live separately,” said Krishanand.

He added that Rupam had come to Purnea in 2006. She had initially lived with the family at their residence in Sipahi Tola but moved out after disagreements.

Earlier, Krishanand and his wife, Sunainya, had also alleged that Rupam was not a virtuous woman.

They were not the only people to say so. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who arrived here this morning with Keshari’s younger son Rahul, also alleged that Rupam had tried to blackmail Keshari. But Modi chose to remain silent when asked why Rupam chose to attack Keshari.

Bhola Prasad, a neighbour of Rupam, said the disgraced principal was too ambitious. Her wish to lead a high-flying life led to her downfall.

Rupam, who was admitted to Katihar Medical College and Hospital yesterday after being beaten up by Keshari’s associates, was out of danger, said a source in the hospital.

A security ring has been thrown around the hospital and no one was allowed to enter its premises without permission from senior police officers.

A police officer who had interrogated her said she had refused to talk to them at first and had been crying. Later, she said she wanted to kill the MLA and his personal assistant, Bipin Rai. She could not believe Keshari was dead. “Please hang me, I do not want to live anymore,” Rupam had told the investigating officers.

Purnea range deputy inspector-general of police Amit Kumar said: “Rupam was interrogated today and she has given us some vital clues. But we cannot reveal these now for the sake of the investigation.”

A source in the hospital at Katihar, around 30km from here, said Rupam had been admitted to the orthopaedic department as she complained of body pains. She took her breakfast today.