India
Pune Woman Found Hanging After Dispute With Mother‑in‑Law, Husband Arrested
A 29‑year‑old IT professional, Payal Zambre Patil, was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in a flat in Mukund Nagar, Pune, on Monday morning. She had reportedly had an argument with her mother‑in‑law on Sunday and left her matrimonial home. Her family and in‑laws began searching for her on Monday, and she was found in another apartment near their residence. No suicide note was recovered. Senior inspector Yashwant Nikam of Swargate police station said the case of harassment and abetment of suicide was registered against four members of her in‑law family, including her husband Akshay Zambre Patil. Payal’s brother, Rishikesh Pawar, claimed the husband and in‑laws were unconcerned until questioned by family, and that the flat’s door was locked from inside. Pawar said Payal had complained of harassment by her mother‑in‑law, including repeated demands for gold. Her uncle alleged that the in‑laws demanded 10 tolas of gold every Diwali and that they pressured her to give birth to a boy during her pregnancy in 2022. After she delivered a girl on 30 March 2023, the in‑laws allegedly argued with her at the hospital and refused responsibility for her or the child. Following Payal’s death, relatives from her parental family vandalised the in‑laws’ residence, office and marriage hall, sparking local tension. The father‑in‑law owns a marriage hall and eatery on Pune‑Satara Road, while the parental family runs a business in Khed‑Shivapur. Police have arrested Akshay and are forming two teams to locate the remaining accused. The investigation into the circumstances of Payal’s death is ongoing.