Couple found dead inside home in Heera Nagar area

Indore: Residents of Meghdoot Nagar, who were driven to a locked house in neighbourhood by cries of a toddler on Sunday morning, were shocked when police found a couple dead inside along with a hand-written suicide note that pointed to a marital dispute over an alleged affair.

Bodies of Halke Veer Patel and his wife Roshni were recovered after Heera Nagar police broke open the door of their house around 6.30 am. According to police, the couple’s minor daughter had been crying continuously since morning, prompting neighbours to alert authorities.

Investigators suspect that Halke first strangled his wife before consuming poison himself. Though the suicide note mentions that both were ending their lives by consuming poison, injury marks were found on Roshni’s neck during examination.

Heera Nagar police station in-charge Sushil Patel said that preliminary investigation revealed frequent disputes between the couple over Roshni’s alleged relationship with Satish, a resident of Pithampur.

In the note, Halke accused his wife of betraying him and claimed she was involved with Satish. He wrote that both were taking the extreme step because of the situation. The note also stated that custody of their daughter should be handed over to his sister-in-law and his property transferred to the child after she turns 18.

Halke further alleged that Satish had called him to Pithampur and assaulted him. He accused Satish’s parents of supporting him and demanded strict action against Satish after his death.

Family members claimed that on Saturday, Halke, along with his younger sister Rani and brother-in-law Satendra, had gone to meet Satish to ask him to stop contacting Roshni. Relatives alleged that Satish’s family assaulted them with sticks during the confrontation. They also claimed no help arrived despite calling Dial-112.

The family said Halke had been living in Indore for the past 10 years and they were unaware of serious disputes between the couple. His nephew Lalit told police that Halke had sent a message around 3.30 am asking family members to reach the police station and ‘break open the gate’ in the morning. The message was noticed only after daybreak.

Police said that Satish is already married and lives on rent in the same building where Halke’s sister stays. Halke worked at a pesticide company in Pithampur and the family originally belonged to Hoshangabad district.

Police have seized the couple’s mobile phones.