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Dead Air India pilot's family rejects suicide claim, accuses boyfriend of blackmail and murder

Srishti Tuli, the first female pilot from Gorakhpur, spoke to her parents just 15 minutes before her death and, her relatives say, she sounded her cheerful self.

EPN Desk 29 November 2024 12:38

Dead Air India pilot's family rejects suicide claim, accuses boyfriend of blackmail and murder

Vivek Tuli, the uncle of Srishti Tuli, a 25-year-old Air India pilot found dead in her Mumbai residence, fiercely denied the police's theory that her death was a suicide, calling it a “cold-blooded, premeditated murder.”

On Nov 27, Tuli's uncle defined his niece as a vibrant and courageous individual who had been highly influenced by her grandfather, a soldier who died in the 1971 war.

However, Vivek strongly disagreed with the police's claim that his niece committed suicide.

"At 11:30 am on Nov 25, Srishti spoke to her mother and was in high spirits," he said.

"She said everything was going well and mentioned that she had just returned from a flight and would be flying again soon. In the CCTV footage shown to me, she appeared happy as she walked upstairs with her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit,” he added.

Vivek questioned the abrupt change of circumstances, asking, “What happened in the 15-20 minutes after that conversation? Can a drastic change like that really happen in such a short time? She was so happy just minutes earlier, and then she is gone... it doesn't make sense.”

He highlighted that expert pilots, such as Srishti, are thoroughly taught how to handle mental and emotional stress.

"Pilots are mentally strong and prepared to deal with extreme stress. It's hard to believe she would be afraid of anything," he said.

"It was not suicide—it was a planned murder,” he added.

According to authorities, on the morning of November 25, Tuli called her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit, who was on his way to Delhi by car, and told him she had intended to commit suicide. Pandit later discovered her body in her residence. The circumstances behind Tuli's death are still being investigated, with her family strongly rejecting the suicide option.

According to Pandit, he hurried back but discovered Tuli's flat door was shut. After calling a locksmith and opening the door, Pandit and another pilot who lived in the same building discovered her dead suspended from the ceiling.

Following complaints from Tuli's family, including allegations that Pandit was extorting money, he was arrested on charges of aiding and abetting suicide.

"We have managed to check only one month's bank statement so far. Around Diwali, about ₹65,000 was transferred to his family members. I am convinced that he was blackmailing her," said Vivek.

Vivek also questioned Pandit's version of the events before the discovery of Tuli's body, which included a fight between the couple.

"So why didn't he (Pandit) call her back after receiving Tuli's call warning that she was about to take an extreme step? Why didn't he call his friend in the same building to check on her? Why call someone living three kilometers away? Please think about that," questioned Vivek.

Vivek noted that investigators had found Pandit had allegedly deleted some conversations from his niece’s phone. He expressed full confidence in the Mumbai Police to resolve the case.

Srishti Tuli, a Gorakhpur resident, hanged herself with a data wire late at night in her unit in the Kanakia RainForest complex in Marol.

Tuli was the first female pilot from Gorakhpur, and she was even honored by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The couple met two years ago while doing a commercial pilot course in Delhi and started dating, according to a Powai police station official.

VTT

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