Indian pilot dies by suicide in Mumbai, boyfriend held over harassment allegations

Family alleges financial exploitation and harassment drove Air India pilot to take her own life.

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A 25-year-old Air India pilot, Srishti Tuli, was found dead in her apartment in Mumbai, the capital of India's Mahrashtra state, with police arresting the deceased's 27-year-old boyfriend, Aditya Pandit, for allegedly abetting her suicide.

Srishti Tuli, originally from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, reportedly hanged herself with a data cable in her flat at the Kanakia Rain Forest building.

Her family alleges that Aditya Pandit had been harassing her and publicly humiliating her, including incidents where he pressured her to stop eating non-vegetarian food.

According to the Powai Police, Srishti Tuli and Aditya Pandit met during a commercial pilot training programme in Delhi two years ago and later began living together in Mumbai.

The family claims Aditya Pandit frequently taunted and insulted Srishti Tuli in public, leading to emotional distress. "Once, during a gathering, he insulted her for eating non-vegetarian food in front of their friends," a police officer said.

Srishti Tuli's uncle, who later filed a police complaint, alleged that Pandit manipulated her lifestyle, controlled her finances, and withdrew money from her bank account.

“He had borrowed around $700 from her and transferred the amount to his family during Diwali,” said Vivek Tuli, the victim’s uncle. “We believe he was blackmailing her, and when she refused to give him more money, it led to this tragic outcome.”

On the night of the incident, Srishti Tuli reportedly called Aditya Pandit while he was travelling to Delhi, informing him of her intent to end her life. Aditya Pandit immediately returned to Mumbai and, with the help of a friend and a keymaker, entered the apartment, where they found her hanging.

Despite being rushed to Seven Hills Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival. No suicide note was found at the scene.

The family also alleges that Pandit tampered with evidence at the crime scene. They have urged the Mumbai Police to conduct a thorough investigation, asserting that their daughter was driven to suicide by continuous harassment.

“She was a strong, independent woman, and we cannot believe she took her own life without being driven to it,” a family member said.

Srishti Tuli was the first woman pilot from Gorakhpur and was even felicitated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for her achievement. She had been living in Mumbai since June 2023 for her job with Air India.

Aditya Pandit has been charged under Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and was remanded to police custody for four days. The police confirmed that further investigations are underway.