Debt Harassment Turns Deadly: Man Murders Wife and Son, Attempts Suicide in Pimpri Chinchwad

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Reported by Varad Bhatkhande

Chikhli, 18th January 2025: A man allegedly murdered his minor son and wife and then attempted suicide due to relentless harassment by moneylenders in the Chikhali area of Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune. The debt-taker, who reportedly paid off the borrowed amount, was still subjected to intense mental and physical pressure. Succumbing to this ordeal, he allegedly killed his son, gave sleeping pills to his wife, and attempted to end his own life. However, he survived.

The shocking incident took place in Sonawane Wasti, Chikhali. The deceased have been identified as Shubhangi Hande (36) and her nine-year-old son Dhanraj. The husband, Vaibhav Hande (45), is currently under medical care in police custody. Two separate cases have been registered at the Chikhali Police Station, Pimpri Chinchwad police—one against four moneylenders and another against Vaibhav Hande for the murder of his wife and son.

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According to the police, Hande had borrowed a total of ₹12 lakh in 2016 from four individuals—Santosh Kadam (resident of Tathawade), a female accused (resident of Tathawade), Santosh Pawar (resident of Kudalwadi), and Javed Khan (resident of Moi, Khed). The loans were taken at exorbitant interest rates of 10% per month.

Hande claimed to have repaid ₹9.50 lakh and transferred 20 gunthas of land in his name to Kadam and the female accused. He also paid ₹4.50 lakh as interest to Javed Khan. Despite clearing these amounts, the moneylenders allegedly continued to harass him for additional payments. Hande stated that he endured continuous physical and mental torture, which ultimately drove him to this desperate act.

The incident took place on January 9. Hande reportedly choked his son to death and administered sleeping pills to his wife, resulting in her demise. He then attempted to hang himself. His elder son, a 14-year-old living with relatives in Mumbai, received a distressing message and a suicide note a day prior to the incident. Unable to contact his parents, he alerted neighbors, who in turn informed the police.

When authorities arrived, they found Shubhangi and Dhanraj deceased, while Vaibhav was discovered hanging but alive. He was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he is now in stable condition.

The first case has been registered against the four moneylenders under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act 2014. Charges include criminal intimidation, intentional insult, and common intention. Three of the accused have already been arrested.

Senior Police Inspector Vitthal Salunkhe, in charge of Chikhali Police Station, said, “We received information about a suicide incident in Sonawane Wasti. Our team found three individuals—a man, a woman, and a child. The man was alive and was rushed to the hospital. He later revealed that the incident was a result of torture by moneylenders. We have registered two cases and are conducting further investigations.”

Inspector Amol Phadtare, leading the investigation, added that police are scrutinizing financial records and communications to gather more evidence.