Ghaziabad suicide: Debts deepened family’s isolation, financial stress began during pandemic, say cops
This financial collapse had direct affects for the girls, police said, adding that they were pulled out of school years ago and never sent back
As investigators piece together the family’s life, they say it was marked by a series of complex and layered dynamics — from financial stress that began during the pandemic and intricate marital relationships, to years of school dropout and a growing sense of isolation the girls experienced within their home.
Investigators said the sisters, aged 16, 14, and 11, lived with their father – a 42-year-old stock trader – his two wives (who are sisters), a 13-year-old deaf and specially-abled brother, and a four-year-old sister.
The family structure, at least three investigators that HT spoke to said, was convoluted: the father first married 18 years ago, and after struggling to conceive, he married his wife’s younger sister 15 years ago. The eldest daughter was born to the first wife; the two younger girls to the second.
The challenges that the family faced started getting compounded from 2020 with the father facing economic hardships following the pandemic, an officer cited above said.
Once comfortably middle-class, with a car and the children attending private school, the father suffered heavy losses. “Around eight to nine years ago, the family lived near Shastri Park and the girls were enrolled in Greenfield School in GTB Enclave. The eldest daughter attended school in Nainital for a brief period but dropped out after Class 5. At that time, the family owned a car and appeared financially stable.”
“But after the pandemic, he faced losses in his business and struggled to get a job… Due to the heavy losses, he took loans from people which he was not able to repay,” a senior investigating officer said. The family now lives in a rented apartment for which they pay ₹12,000 monthly.
{{/usCountry}}“But after the pandemic, he faced losses in his business and struggled to get a job… Due to the heavy losses, he took loans from people which he was not able to repay,” a senior investigating officer said. The family now lives in a rented apartment for which they pay ₹12,000 monthly.
{{/usCountry}}This financial collapse had direct affects for the girls, another officer added. They were pulled out of school years ago and never sent back. “The father made them drop out as he believed they weren’t doing well in academics,” an officer stated.
{{/usCountry}}This financial collapse had direct affects for the girls, another officer added. They were pulled out of school years ago and never sent back. “The father made them drop out as he believed they weren’t doing well in academics,” an officer stated.
{{/usCountry}}Another officer said persistent financial distress led to frequent domestic disputes. “There were constant fights in the household. The father was extremely strict with his daughters. Initially, the girls shared two mobile phones and operated a common social media account in the eldest sister’s name. But due to mounting financial pressure, the father sold both phones – one around six months ago and the second barely 10 to 15 days before the incident,” the officer said, stating that this severely cut the girls’ only link to the Korean pop culture they cherished.
{{/usCountry}}Another officer said persistent financial distress led to frequent domestic disputes. “There were constant fights in the household. The father was extremely strict with his daughters. Initially, the girls shared two mobile phones and operated a common social media account in the eldest sister’s name. But due to mounting financial pressure, the father sold both phones – one around six months ago and the second barely 10 to 15 days before the incident,” the officer said, stating that this severely cut the girls’ only link to the Korean pop culture they cherished.
{{/usCountry}}The two wives left the home in 2025 for a few days, fed up with the arguments, the officer said. “In May 2025, both wives left the house after repeated fights, leaving the children behind. No formal complaint was lodged, but the father contacted local police. The women returned within two to three days. Their current house has minimal furnishings — old furniture, a television and a few basics,” the officer said, adding the kids mostly stayed indoors.
Stranded at home, the three sisters started becoming insular, according to the testimonies the family members have given to the police. The officer said that the girls started “doing everything together”, while growing estranged from their siblings.
Investigators also noted the girls had a “failed relationship” with their mute brother and younger sister. This rift is detailed in their suicide note, where they expressed hatred for Bollywood –which they said that their siblings were “encouraged to like” – and eventually terming them their “enemy.”
The girls’ paternal uncle told HT that the family had little interaction with relatives. “They kept to themselves, and their father was always upset. He often told us about losses.”
