A quiet pre-dawn in Nagpur's New Nandanvan locality was shattered by blood-curdling screams on Thursday, leading to a gruesome discovery that has exposed a tale of forbidden love and alleged murder. The incident, which resulted in one death and critical injuries to another, involves a couple who were cousins and had been in a romantic relationship for four years.
A Blood-Soaked Scene and a Race to the Hospital
In the early hours, around 3:30 AM, neighbours were jolted awake by screams emanating from an apartment. They found a horrific scene: a young man and a woman, both drenched in blood. The duo, identified as 27-year-old Balaji Kalyane and 25-year-old Rati alias Rani Deshmukh, were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Balaji Kalyane, a police aspirant, was declared dead on arrival. His cousin, Rati Deshmukh, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and was working as an intern, was admitted with grievous injuries. She is currently recuperating at the GMCH trauma centre under heavy police security, as she has been named the prime accused in Balaji's murder.
Unraveling a Taboo Relationship and a Possible Motive
Investigations by the Nandanvan Police have revealed that the couple, both originally from Nanded, had been in a romantic relationship for four years. Balaji had shifted to Nagpur, where Rati was already studying Ayurveda. Their cohabitation in the apartment had raised eyebrows within the family and fuelled whispers of disapproval, given the social stigma surrounding such relationships.
Initial police findings suggest a complex and violent turn of events. While Rati initially raised an alarm about being attacked, police sources indicate her wounds may have been self-inflicted, an attempt to mislead investigators. The autopsy report on Balaji's body pointed conclusively to murder, revealing four deep stab wounds and two shallow ones on his chest, injuries inconsistent with suicide.
Adding to the suspicion, police found that Rati had deleted all messages and chats from her WhatsApp and SMS inboxes. Investigators are probing the theory that Rati may have wanted to end the relationship, but Balaji was unrelenting, potentially triggering the violent attack. Given Balaji's heavy build, there is also a possibility he was drugged before the stabbing.
Complications and an Ongoing Probe
The plot thickened as sources privy to the investigation hinted at the potential involvement of a third person—an unidentified individual—in Rati's life, raising questions about a possible love triangle. Forensic teams are scouring the apartment for fingerprints and DNA evidence of any outsiders.
The police are also examining calls and visits from family members in the days leading up to the murder, considering if familial pressure over the taboo relationship played a role. The room where the incident occurred was bolted from inside and had a common door to the kitchen, where Balaji's roommate, Pawan Tade, a medical representative from Nanded, was sleeping. Pawan, who had been staying with Balaji for six months, told police he knocked repeatedly on the door after hearing commotion, and Rati opened it after a considerable delay.
The Nandanvan Police have charged Rati Deshmukh with murder but have not arrested her yet due to her hospitalisation. The case has turned a quiet neighbourhood into a hotspot of fear and gossip, as authorities continue to piece together the concrete motive behind this tragic crime that blends personal passion with alleged violence.
