Delhi's popular cafe owner Puneet Khurana takes his own life amid marital dispute
PTC Web Desk: In a tragic incident, Puneet Khurana, a 40-year-old co-founder of the popular Woodbox Cafe in Delhi, was found dead at his residence in Kalyan Vihar, Model Town, on Tuesday evening. The Delhi Police suspect the death to be a case of suicide.
According to officials, Puneet Khurana was discovered hanging in his room. He had been undergoing a tumultuous phase in his personal life, as he and his wife, Manika Jagdish Pahwa, were in the process of getting a divorce. The couple, who had married in 2016, co-owned the now-closed Woodbox Cafe and another eatery, For God's Cake. Disputes regarding their business ventures are believed to have added strain to their relationship.
Khurana's family alleged that he was "upset" with his wife. The police have retrieved his phone for further investigation and are expected to question his estranged wife, as she was reportedly the last person he spoke to before the incident. An audio recording of their final conversation reveals the couple arguing about their bakery business. In the recording, Pahwa accused Khurana of disgracing her and her family, to which Khurana reportedly asked her to clarify her demands.
The case has drawn parallels to another recent incident in Bengaluru, where 34-year-old techie Atul Subhash died by suicide, leaving behind a 24-page note accusing his wife and her family of harassment. Subhash detailed years of emotional distress caused by alleged false legal cases and familial disputes. His wife, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law were subsequently arrested and placed in judicial custody.
In Khurana's case, his family claimed that his wife recorded their conversation and shared it with her relatives, further escalating tensions. The police are closely examining these allegations as part of their ongoing investigation.
- With inputs from agencies
