Indore MBA student murder: Boyfriend strangled her, drank beer beside body, later tried to 'contact her spirit'

• Accused killed girlfriend, tried black magic to "call her spirit"
• CCTV footage, forensic evidence link accused to the crime
• Accused arrested in Mumbai after fleeing Indore

Did our AI summary help?

Police investigating the murder of a 24-year-old MBA student from Indore say the accused boyfriend tried to perform black magic after killing her, claiming he wanted to “call her spirit” and apologise.

According to investigators, the man travelled to a secluded area in Panvel, near Mumbai, where he lit incense sticks, watched YouTube videos on how to summon spirits, and whispered into the darkness, saying he wanted to speak to the woman’s aatma (soul).

Police said these actions suggested that the accused had become mentally disturbed after the crime. Evidence found at the spot indicated an attempt to perform occult rituals. Officers described the scene as disturbing and unusual, adding a shocking layer to an already brutal murder case.

Body found after foul smell from rented flat

The woman’s body was found on February 13 in a rented flat in the Dwarkapuri area of Indore after neighbours complained of a foul smell coming from the house. When police broke open the locked door, they found her lying naked on a bed.

Preliminary investigation revealed clear rope marks around her neck, indicating strangulation. Her hands and feet appeared to have been tied earlier. Police believe the body had been lying in the flat for several days. The flat had allegedly been rented by her boyfriend, Piyush Dhamnotiya, who studied with her at the same college.

Forensic teams were called in immediately, and the flat was sealed for further examination. Ropes, a broken knife, and other materials were seized from the scene.

CCTV footage links accused to crime

CCTV cameras installed near the building played a key role in the investigation. Footage showed Dhamnotiya arriving at the flat with the student on February 10. Around two and a half hours later, the same cameras captured him leaving alone, carrying a bag.

This footage raised strong suspicion. Around the same time, the woman’s family began searching for her after she failed to return home. On February 11, her father filed a missing complaint, stating that he had dropped her near the Collector’s office a day earlier.

Police later matched the missing person report with the body found in the rented flat, confirming the victim’s identity.

What happened inside the flat

During interrogation, police said Dhamnotiya admitted that he was in a long-term relationship with the woman. However, the couple often argued over marriage, as their families did not approve of the relationship. These disagreements had become intense in recent weeks.

On the day of the incident, the two met at the rented flat to discuss their future. According to police, the accused pressured the woman for sex. She refused, telling him she was unwell. Police allege that he then forced himself on her, NDTV reported.

After the assault, he allegedly tied her hands and feet with ropes found in the flat and blindfolded her. He reportedly told her that he wanted to give her a “gift.” When she resisted again, police say he stuffed cloth into her mouth and sat on her chest, choking her until she lost consciousness.

Investigators believe that when he realised she had stopped breathing, he stabbed her near the chest with extreme force. The blow was so strong that the knife broke.

Disturbing phone messages

Police said the violence did not end with the woman’s death. The accused allegedly remained inside the flat for some time. He went out, bought beer from a nearby liquor shop, returned, and drank alcohol while sitting beside her lifeless body.

During interrogation, police claim he admitted to sexually assaulting the corpse. After this, he changed his clothes and fled, leaving the woman’s body naked in the room.

Earlier that day, the student had told her family she was going to correct her Aadhaar card. Later, she called her younger sister and said she was attending a birthday party with her classmate Piyush Dhamnotiya and would return by 11 pm.

At around 11 pm, a chilling message was sent from her phone saying, “Tell Papa she won’t be returning home.” Soon after, the phone was switched off.

Police later discovered that 11 objectionable videos of the couple had been shared in a college group. The same videos were uploaded to the woman’s WhatsApp status and sent to contacts saved in her phone.

Flight to Mumbai and arrest

After the murder, Dhamnotiya fled Indore and travelled to Mumbai via Panvel. Police said he stayed in different hotels, roamed metro stations, and eventually broke the woman’s mobile phone in an attempt to destroy evidence.

He was arrested in Mumbai with the help of local police and brought back to Indore for questioning.

Indore Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishnalal Chandni said the accused kept changing his statements during interrogation. In one version, he claimed he wanted to marry the woman, but she had been distancing herself for nearly 15 days. He said he noticed a dating app on her phone and believed she was talking to another man, which made him insecure and angry.

The officer added that marriage pressure, family opposition, and jealousy appeared to be the main reasons behind the crime.