Greater Noida deaths: 3 arrested; police suspect suicide, rule out 'noodles' angle

Three people have been arrested after a couple and their three children were found dead at their home in a village in Greater Noida, police said on Sunday (October 18).

The accused, two sisters and a brother-in-law of the deceased man, were arrested following a complaint from a relative, Rabupura SHO Sujeet Upadhyay said.

Police suspect the family died by suicide. The deaths first looked like food poisoning, as the family had eaten tea and noodles the night before. However, the post-mortem reports changed that assumption.

Post-mortem finds signs of poisoning

The reports found signs of poisoning, and doctors preserved the viscera of all five bodies for testing. The samples have been sent to a laboratory.

The deceased have been identified as Mahesh (37), his wife Lalita (35) and their one minor daughter and two minor sons. Their bodies were found on Saturday (October 17) morning inside their home in Nagla Shri Padam village near Rabupura, which comes under Rabupura police station in Greater Noida.

Voice note names alleged family dispute

Mahesh recorded a voice note on his mobile phone before he died, reported India Today. Police said that in it he allegedly held his two sisters and a brother-in-law responsible for the family’s plight.

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The complaint was filed by Mahesh’s brother-in-law, who accused the three of harassing Mahesh and his family.

A case has been registered against them on the basis of the complaint. According to the report, police are checking the allegations. Whether the three had any role in the circumstances that led to the deaths has not been established, police said.

Property dispute angle under scanner

The family had been caught in a prolonged property dispute. Police said their preliminary inquiries suggest it may have led to the incident, reported India Today.

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Officers are going through the voice note, the property dispute and the circumstances around the deaths. Both the suspected suicide and the possibility of poisoning remain under scrutiny.

The exact cause of death will be known only after the laboratory reports are received, the SHO said.

(Suicides can be prevented. For help please call Suicide Prevention Helplines: Neha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050; Aasara helpline for suicide prevention, emotional support & trauma help — +91-9820466726; Kiran, Mental health rehabilitation — 1800-599-0019, Disha 0471- 2552056, Maithri 0484 2540530, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)

(With agency inputs)