A young couple, both software engineers, were found dead in their Gurugram apartment on Sunday evening in a suspected case of murder-suicide, cutting short a marriage that families say was marked by recurring strife.
The victims, Ajay Kumar, originally from Prayagraj and his wife Sweety Sharma, from West Bengal, were discovered by police in their locked rental flat at The Millennia in Sector 37. According to a TOI report, preliminary investigation suggests that Kumar may have strangled Sharma with a piece of cloth before taking his own life.
The grim discovery was precipitated by a desperate video message. Kumar sent a video to a group of friends declaring his intention to end his life. In the footage, he is reportedly heard saying, that he killed Sweety before revealing his plans to end his life too, a police official said, as cited by TOI.
Alarmed friends immediately alerted Kumar’s relatives in Uttar Pradesh, who in turn contacted family in Delhi. They rushed to the Gurugram flat, found the door locked from the inside and summoned the police, who forced entry. It was, however, too late.
The couple's relationship, which began with years of courtship and a marriage in 2023, had been under strain. Families reportedly said that despite initial happiness, the pair had already lived apart for a year in an attempt to calm tensions.
They had recently decided to reunite and give their marriage another chance. This final attempt at reconciliation, however, was unsuccessful.
Sweety’s mother provided a poignant glimpse into the couple's final hours, describing her last conversation with her daughter around noon on Sunday. She told TOI that Sweety mentioned Kumar was fixing a bookshelf and that she had advised him to consult the flat owner before drilling into the wall. The call ended with Sweety promising to call back - a promise she never fulfilled.
"I kept calling her — almost thirty times — but her phone was switched off. I tried Ajay as well, but he did not answer. I sensed something was wrong," her mother was quoted by TOI as saying.
She alleged that the relationship had been testy from early on. "We took our daughter back with us when things got ugly," she said. "After a year apart, they decided to try again, but the quarrels continued... I am certain Ajay killed my daughter."
The tragedy has devastated both families. Kumar’s cousin, Deepak Gupta, recounted that the fateful video message contained bittersweet reflections. The video message shared by Ajay mentioned his hopes for a happy family and plans for children, but also his decision to take the extreme step of killing himself, Gupta added.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem as police continue their investigation. Authorities have recorded statements from both families but are awaiting a formal complaint from Sweety Sharma’s family before proceeding further.
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