Nagpur Doctor Arrested in Daughter's Suicide Case After Key Evidence Surfaces
In a tragic turn of events, Wardha police have arrested Dr Arun Wankhede, a BAMS doctor, nearly two months after his 18-year-old daughter Nakshatra was found dead at their residence in Sawangi (Meghe). The arrest on Tuesday, February 3, followed the emergence of fresh evidence, including handwritten notes and the alleged use of a helium gas cylinder, during a subsequent examination of the room by the teen's mother, Dr Sushma Wankhede.
Initial Investigation and New Developments
Nakshatra was discovered deceased in her room at the family home in Dreamland City on December 6, 2025. Initially, authorities treated the death as accidental, suspecting she had ended her life by inhaling helium gas through a thin pipe after wrapping a plastic sheet around her face. However, the investigation took a significant turn in late January, almost seven weeks later, when Dr Sushma approached the police with handwritten notes recovered from her daughter's study room.
These notes, written in English and Marathi, purportedly by Nakshatra, described years of alleged verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental harassment by her father. According to the FIR, Dr Sushma accused her husband of tormenting Nakshatra since 2021, repeatedly telling her she was not his daughter and calling her a disgrace. She also alleged that Dr Arun had extramarital relationships, which contributed to the family's distress.
Police Action and Arrest
Based on this material, police registered an offence against Dr Arun Wankhede under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with abetment of suicide. Under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Saurabh Agrawal and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pramod Makeshwar, a team led by Sawangi Police Station In-Charge Pankaj Waghode traced the accused to Umarkhed in Yavatmal district and took him into custody.
Dr Arun was arrested from Umarkhed, and his mobile phone has been seized for digital evidence examination. The FIR further claims that the accused had ordered a helium gas cylinder, which was delivered to Wardha shortly before the incident. Police are treating both the cylinder and the handwritten notes as key evidence and have sent them for forensic examination.
Background of the Family
Dr Sushma Wankhede is a professor at the School of Ayurveda, Sathya Sai University, Bhopal. Both she and her husband had previously worked at a medical college in Wardha, with Dr Arun also having worked in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Nakshatra was pursuing her education in Wardha at the time of her untimely death.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Inspector Pankaj Gajanan Waghode, who is leading the investigation, stated that statements are being recorded and all material evidence, including timelines and procurement records, is being verified. Dr Arun has been remanded in police custody for four days and will be produced before the court on Friday.
This case highlights the severe consequences of alleged mental harassment and the importance of thorough police work in uncovering the truth behind such tragic incidents. The community in Nagpur and beyond awaits further developments as the investigation continues to unfold.
