MUMBAI: A 24-year-old Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) student allegedly died by suicide in Mumbai, leaving behind a six-page note in which she accused her boyfriend of mentally harassing her and humiliating her over their relationship. The deceased, Stuti Sonawane, was found hanging at her home in the Antop Hill area on Monday. Police arrested her boyfriend, Fazal Mohammad Khan (31), an insurance agent, from Lower Parel later the same day. According to police, Sonawane’s suicide note forms a crucial part of the investigation and details the emotional distress she allegedly faced during her relationship.
What the suicide note said
Police said the student wrote about the mental trauma she experienced because of repeated humiliation and insults from her boyfriend. In the note, she wrote about her relationship with her former boyfriend, whom she met on a dating app. She became friends with him and was in a relationship with him for one and half years. In the note she alleged that her former boyfriend humiliated and insulted her, which resulted in her suffering severe mental trauma. “However, over the course of time the duo realised that their relationship will not last and due to various reasons they cannot go ahead and hence decided to break off and be just friends,” a police official said. During the investigation, police learnt that another man had entered the woman’s life after the break-up, which reportedly upset Khan. This led to a scuffle between the two. “In a fit of rage, Khan allegedly used some derogatory words against her, which affected her mentally and which she mentioned in her note,” the police said.
Friends joked about ‘fridge’ remark
Police also said that the student mentioned in her note that her friends were aware of her troubled relationship. According to the note, the woman’s friends knew about her troubles with her boyfriend and would often joke and say, “We don’t want to see you in the fridge.”
How the incident came to light
The incident came to light on Monday morning when Sonawane did not come out of her room till around 11am. Her parents called out to her but received no response. Growing suspicious, they broke open the door and found her hanging from the ceiling, police said. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead.
Arrest and case registered
Police said Sonawane had named Khan in the six-page note and accused him of constant harassment. Based on a complaint filed by her parents, the Antop Hill police arrested Khan, a resident of Worli. He has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 108 (abetment of suicide). Further investigation is underway.
