Not iPhone, then what: Why mystery of a family’s end may never be solved

In a tragic incident on August 21, a 19-year-old named Kunal Chandgude took his own life along with his parents, Murlidhar and Sangita, after attempting the same act in the previous year. The incident occurred on Khavdhya Hill in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Police sources reveal that constables Suresh Bhise and Jayesh Salunkhe intervened and saved Kunal last year.

Senior Inspector Rameshwar Gade of MIDC Waluj police station stated that the two constables talked Kunal out of committing suicide and brought him down safely.

The initial theory that the tragedy was caused by Kunal's desire to own an iPhone has been debunked, leaving the police with no clear explanation for the incident. The identification of the cause of the tragedy is proving to be a significant challenge now, as the entire family has passed away. Police are speaking to relatives and acquaintances of the family in order to determine whether there was a prolonged domestic dispute or other underlying issues that may have troubled Kunal.

The family's history of tension is revealed through the investigation. Murlidhar and Sangita, who had a love marriage 22 years ago, faced opposition from Murlidhar's parents, who did not attend the wedding. The couple moved from their native Jalna to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, earlier known as Aurangabad. Murlidhar, a truck driver, was away from home for extended periods, while Sangita was active on social media, posting inspirational messages and videos discussing relationships and marriage difficulties faced by women.

In the months leading up to the tragedy, tensions within the family seem to have escalated, particularly after Murlidhar and Sangita's younger son passed away due to illness. Murlidhar's father, Rambhau Chandgude, planned to leave his property to his four daughters, pushing Sangita to feel upset because Murlidhar had been financially supporting his sister.

The investigation has shown that Murlidhar and Sangita had separated from each other for several months before the incident. The last video posted by Sangita days before the tragedy discussed the need for husbands to be understanding and the difficulties women face when their husbands or in-laws mistreat them. This timing coincides with Murlidhar reuniting with his family, which further created tension between him and Sangita.

The family lived in a spacious two-storey bungalow with modern amenities, such as laptops, iPhones, and a motorcycle. This wealth contradicts the belief that an iPhone wish and inability to pay EMIs could have triggered the tragedy. Kunal, a Class XI student preparing for the NEET examination, had enrolled at Aakash Institute, and his father Murlidhar was paying the remaining balance through monthly EMIs on time.

The incident is captured in a chilling video that shows Kunal going to the hill after telling his mother he intended to end his life. His parents followed him to the hill, about 200 feet high, and asked him to walk away from the edge. Police and onlookers pleaded with Kunal, but he ultimately took his own life. Murlidhar and Sangita, along with their son, were cremated separately by their respective families, with the deaths of the teenager and his parents marked by a video that has gone viral.