Minister's Personal Assistant Booked in Wife's Suicide Case
The Mumbai police have taken serious action against Anant Garje, the personal assistant of Maharashtra Environment Minister Pankaja Munde, by registering a formal case for allegedly driving his wife to suicide. The incident occurred at the couple's Worli residence on Saturday, sending shockwaves through political circles.
According to police officials, the First Information Report (FIR) was filed on Sunday based on the detailed statement provided by Dr Gauri Palve's father, Ashok Palve. The 28-year-old dentist was discovered hanging at her home, marking a tragic end to a marriage that had begun just nine months earlier in February this year in Beed.
Pattern of Harassment and Threats Revealed
The FIR paints a disturbing picture of the deceased's married life, revealing that Gauri faced constant quarrels and mental harassment following her wedding. The situation took a dramatic turn on October 3 when the young dentist sent her father several photographs via WhatsApp that allegedly proved her husband was involved in an extramarital relationship.
When Gauri confronted Anant about the evidence, his response was both shocking and cruel. He reportedly told her to "do whatever she wanted" while threatening to commit suicide himself and blame her for his death. This psychological pressure created an unbearable environment for the young professional.
Making matters worse, the FIR states that Gauri's brother-in-law and his wife were aware of the alleged affair and even threatened that if she decided to leave Anant, they would simply arrange another marriage for him. This systematic isolation and intimidation left the victim with diminishing options.
Disturbing Signs and Final Hours
The parents' recent visit to their daughter's Worli home revealed visible signs of distress that raised serious concerns. They noticed unexplained injury marks on Gauri's body that she refused to discuss, suggesting possible physical abuse alongside the documented mental harassment.
The final communication between father and daughter occurred on Friday when Ashok Palve missed two calls from Gauri. When he returned the call later, she assured him that everything was fine, masking what appears to have been her deteriorating mental state.
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening when Anant Garje called the Palve family to inform them that their daughter had committed suicide. The devastated family immediately rushed to Mumbai, only to learn that Gauri had been declared dead at Nair Hospital.
Legal Action and Family Demands
Worli police have registered a comprehensive case under multiple sections including abetment to suicide and cruelty by husband and relatives. The family has gone a step further by requesting police to investigate the possibility of murder rather than suicide.
Gauri's uncle has made serious allegations, claiming that his niece was murdered by Garje and his family members. The family has demanded an in-camera postmortem and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to ensure transparency in the investigation.
In a direct appeal to the state's leadership, the grieving family has sought intervention from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, requesting a thorough and detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gauri's death.
Political Response and Police Action
A Worli police station official confirmed that multiple names have been included in the FIR besides Anant Garje, based on information provided by the deceased woman's family members. The investigation is currently underway with all accused parties under scrutiny.
Minister Pankaja Munde has responded to the situation by stating that police should investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure there are no procedural lapses. She revealed that another member of her staff received a distressed call from Anant between 6:30 pm and 6:45 pm on Saturday, where he was "crying inconsolably" while breaking the news of his wife's suicide.
In an official statement, Munde described the incident as "very shocking" and confirmed that she has communicated with both police authorities and Gauri's father. She expressed understanding of the family's profound sorrow while acknowledging the incomprehensible nature of personal tragedies.
The case continues to develop as Mumbai police pursue their investigation into the allegations of abetment to suicide and cruelty that led to the untimely death of a young dental professional.
