Air India Pilot Death: Boyfriend Held Over Abetment Of Suicide; Family Suspects Murder, Extortion

Srishti's body was discovered in her rented flat in Mumbai. As per PTI, she used to live in the Kanakia Rain Forest building in the Marol area.

Based on an FIR, police took her boyfriend, 27-year-old Aditya Pandit, into custody following the accusation of harassment and abuse against him. Pandit according to family was also forcing her to stop eating non-vegetarian food.

He was arrested under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit section 108 (abetment of suicide) and was produced in a court which remanded him in police custody for four days.

About the incident

Pandit had earlier said that he was driving down to Delhi when he received Srishti's call where she talked about ending her life. Pandit claimed he rushed to her flat and found the door of her flat locked from inside.

On managing to get the door open with the help of a key maker, he found Tuli hanging with a data cable. He had told the police that she was taken to the Seven Hills Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

No suicide note was found in the house, the official said.

How did Srishti and Aditya know each other?

According to the FIR registered by the police, Srishti and Aditya met during her training for commercial flying in Delhi. Srishti completed the course while Aditya dropped out. Two years ago and got into a relationship. In 2023, Srishti moved to Mumbai after getting her flying license. He however was unable to clear the exam.

Officials privy to the developments said Tuli was from Uttar Pradesh while Aditya lives in Faridabad near Delhi and often travelled to Mumbai to stay with Srishti.

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Family alleges planned murder, extortion

According to a report by NDTV, in view of Srishti's death, her uncle Vivek Tuli said, "They are saying she died by suicide, but I don't believe it. This is planned murder. She was strong, otherwise she would not be a pilot. We have come to know about her friend (Aditya), who started training with her but could not complete the course. He was jealous of her and would harass her."

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As per the report, Mr Tuli also highlighted the possibility of extortion of money citing Srishti's bank account statement. "We have managed to check only one month's statement so far. Around Diwali, about ? 65,000 was transferred to his family members. I am convinced that he was blackmailing her. I have now asked the bank for the whole year's statement. Maybe, she had refused him money and that became the cause of her death."

"Police are saying that she died by suicide. I don't know how he manipulated her and pushed her to the edge. What did he do? She spoke to her mother and aunt cheerfully just 15 minutes before her death", hw added. 

Commenting on what Srishti told regarding getting harrassed by her boyfriend, Mr Tuli said, "She had narrated bits and pieces to her sister. But when I met her friends, they told me the extent to which he harassed her. He would scream at her publicly. There were times when he made her get out of the car in the middle of the road and drove away."

Besides, the family also alleged that another woman pilot was involved in Srishti's death. "We came to know that another woman was there. She called in the keymaker, got him to open the door and took Srishti to the hospital. Who opens the door and enters someone's flat without calling the cops? And these are trained pilots. And why would a key maker randomly open a door from outside?" The family has alleged that Aditya also pressured Srishti to stop eating non-vegetarian food. Recently, they fought after she could not attend his sister's engagement ceremony.