In a shocking incident that has left the aviation community and her family devastated, 25-year-old Air India pilot Srishti Tuli was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on Monday. Police have arrested her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit, on charges of abetment to suicide, following allegations of emotional and psychological abuse.
Discovery of the Tragic Incident
Srishti Tuli’s body was discovered in her rented flat at the Kanakia Rainforest building in the Marol area of Andheri, Mumbai, early on Monday morning. According to the police, she allegedly took her own life by hanging herself with a data cable. No suicide note was found at the scene, leading investigators to probe the circumstances surrounding her death more closely.
Pandit, who was traveling to Delhi at the time, received a distressing phone call from Tuli in the early hours of Monday. During the call, Tuli allegedly told him she intended to take her life. Pandit immediately rushed back to Mumbai and arrived at her apartment to find the door locked. After calling a locksmith to open the door, he found Tuli hanging and took her to SevenHills Hospital, where she was declared dead.
Allegations of Abuse and Control
Following Tuli’s death, her family, particularly her uncle, filed a complaint with the police accusing Aditya Pandit of repeatedly harassing and controlling her. According to the family, Pandit would often humiliate Tuli in public, subjecting her to emotional abuse. They claim that he pressured her to change her eating habits and stop consuming non-vegetarian food, among other controlling behaviors.
Tuli’s uncle further described incidents where Pandit would shout at her in front of others, including at social gatherings. He also reportedly withdrew money from Tuli’s bank account without her permission and often cut off communication after arguments, leaving her emotionally distressed. The family believes that these abusive actions contributed significantly to Tuli’s deteriorating mental health.
A Troubled Relationship
Srishti Tuli, originally from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, had moved to Mumbai in June 2023 after securing a job with Air India. She had been dating Aditya Pandit since they first met in Delhi, where she was preparing to become a commercial pilot. But over time, Tuli’s relatives said that the connection had become poisonous. The family claims that Pandit’s actions grew increasingly domineering and manipulative, particularly when Tuli skipped his sister’s engagement party because of business obligations.
The night before her death, Srishti Tuli reportedly had a heated argument with Pandit. CCTV footage from her building shows her returning home from work on Sunday evening and having a conversation with her mother over the phone, with no apparent signs of distress. However, in the early hours of Monday, she called Pandit to tell him about her decision to end her life.
The Arrest of Aditya Pandit
Based on the family’s complaint, the police arrested Aditya Pandit on Tuesday under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to abetment to suicide. Pandit had reportedly been preparing for a pilot exam but had not qualified, which may have added stress to his relationship with Tuli.
Pandit was presented in court on Tuesday, and the court sent him into four days of police custody for further investigation. Police have also seized Tuli’s phone and sent it for forensic analysis to examine her communications with Pandit and to gather evidence of any potential manipulation or abuse.
📍In #Mumbai, 25-year-old Air India pilot Srishti Tuli was found dead in her Andheri flat, and her boyfriend, Aditya Pandit (27), has been arrested for abetment. Her family suspects foul play, alleging that Aditya had prevented her from eating non-vegetarian food. pic.twitter.com/TR1sqZbQJI
— محمد الزمر (@Md_Alzamar0) November 27, 2024A Community in Mourning
Srishti Tuli’s death has left her family and the larger community in deep mourning. Tuli was the first woman pilot from Gorakhpur and had received recognition for her achievements, including an award from the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Her sudden death has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, with many expressing disbelief at the loss of such a young, promising individual.
Hundreds of people gathered in Gorakhpur to pay their respects at Tuli’s cremation. Her family has called for a thorough investigation into her death and is seeking justice for the young woman whose career and life were tragically cut short.
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