NEW DELHI: As the mystery surrounding the suicide of Air India pilot, Srishti Tuli continued, her family members told TOI that she spoke to them just 15 minutes before taking the extreme step. Her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit, whose custody has been extended until 2 December, also allegedly made Tuli pay for his food and shopping bills by sending her QR codes. According to her uncle, he also made her transfer Rs 15,000 in October and Rs 50,000 in November.
Meanwhile, Pandit’s lawyer maintained that he was falsely implicated in the case. He claimed that after speaking with Tuli, who said that she would end her life, Pandit immediately rushed back midway from Delhi and called her at least 90 times.
Also read: Kin allege foul play, say Aditya Pandit made her pay bills; custody extended
Tuli was found hanging in her rented flat in Mumbai’s Marol area on 25 November. She had reportedly called her boyfriend, saying “she would end her life”, shortly before the incident, as per reports by news agency PTI. Pandit upon reaching her flat found it to be locked from the inside. After calling a locksmith to open the door, Tuli was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at Seven Hills Hospital. As per the report, no suicide note was discovered at the scene.
Pandit, 27, was arrested and charged with abetment of suicide following allegations from Tuli’s uncle, who accused him of harassment, emotional abuse, and forcing her to change her dietary habits. The investigators are also working to retrieve deleted WhatsApp chats between him and Tuli, which are believed to hold critical clues about the events leading up to her death.
What do we know so far about Air India pilot Srishti Tuli’s suicide?
- Tuli was found hanging with a data cable in her flat after a distress call to Pandit.
- Police detained Pandit based on an FIR filed by Tuli’s uncle, accusing him of abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the BNS.
- Tuli’s family revealed she spoke with her mother shortly before her death and appeared happy. Her uncle said, “What went wrong in those 15 minutes is something the police have to find out.”
- Tuli’s uncle claimed Pandit had coerced her into transferring Rs 15,000 last month and Rs 50,000 in November. He also allegedly made her pay for his shopping and food bills via QR codes.
- Pandit’s lawyer argued his client made 90 calls to Tuli while returning to Mumbai after her distressing video call. “If his intentions were wrong, why would he return and take her to the hospital?” said the lawyer.
- Investigators have seized Pandit’s mobile phone and are attempting to recover deleted WhatsApp messages, which they believe could provide crucial insights into their relationship and the incident.
- Pandit told the police he deleted the messages because he had threatened self-harm if Tuli died. “When questioned about the deleted messages, he stated he had threatened self-harm if she died. Police are sceptical of his explanation and are working with forensic experts to recover the deleted content,” a police officer told TOI.
- Authorities told TOI that Tuli had been in a heated argument with Pandit before her death. On the night of the incident, she reportedly made a video call threatening self-harm.
- Police are scrutinising Pandit’s failure to alert authorities about Tuli’s threats and his decision to access her flat without involving law enforcement.
- Tuli and Pandit met two years ago while training as commercial pilots in Delhi. Pandit, who reportedly failed his qualification exams, is believed to have contributed to Tuli’s mental distress.