Aditya Rakesh Pandit, 27, who was arrested by Powai police on Tuesday on charges of abeting the alleged suicide of his girlfriend Srishti Tuli, 25, an Air India pilot, was remanded to police custody upto Monday by a city court on Friday.
While seeking further extension of Pandit’s custody, Powai police on Friday informed the court that the accused was not cooperating in the investigation and he knew the password of Tuli’s phone. However he disclosed this to the police only on Thursday.
The police also submitted before the court that they have learnt there were monetary transactions between Pandit and Tuli, hence they require his custody to probe this.
However, the defence lawyer argued that police have no concrete grounds to seek extension of Pandit’s custody. Bank transactions details can be obtained from his phone and laptop which are already with the police. For this his physical custody is not required, his lawyer argued.
After hearing both sides, the court remanded Pandit to police custody till Monday.
Tuli, a Gorakhpur native, was found dead in her rented accommodation behind Marol Police Camp in Andheri (East) early Monday. Initial inquiries indicate she was mentally disturbed due to Pandit’s harassment, police said.
Pandit, who is from Faridabad-NCR, had been preparing for the pilot’s exam but had failed to qualify, they added.
A preliminary police probe revealed that when Tuli returned home after work on Sunday, she had an argument with Pandit. Around 1 am, Pandit reportedly left for Delhi in a car. Tuli called him on his phone and allegedly told him that she was going to take the extreme step. When he paid no heed to her threats, she made a video call to him to show how she was going to take her life.
As per police, Pandit then returned to her place but found the door locked from inside. He called a locksmith, got the room opened and found her unresponsive. She had allegedly hanged herself with a data cable, officers said.
Pandit rushed Tuli to Seven Hills Hospital in Marol, where she was declared dead. Her family and police were informed thereon. As per a preliminary probe, a fight between the two triggered the young pilot to take the extreme step.
Pointing out that Pandit was trying to hide something, the source said he allegedly deleted chats with Tuli.
There were around 10-11 phone calls between the two besides several missed calls on Tuli’s phone while he was going back to her place, as claimed by him, to stop her from taking the extreme step, police said, adding they have also seized Pandit’s phone.
When police asked Pandit the reason behind their fight, he claimed she was forcing him to stay there for a few more days but he decided to leave. Police are trying to verify this from their chats and messages.