24-year-old Mumbai compère’s body found in building duct after sleepover at friend’s flat

Investigations hint at it being a case of suicide, police officials said

A 24-year-old compère was found dead at a Malwani society hours after she and her boyfriend arrived at a friend’s flat there early on Monday.

The woman, Arpita Tiwari, is a Mira Road resident. Police are questioning her boyfriend Pankaj Jadhav, her friend and flatmates to ascertain the cause of her death. (HT File)

The woman, Arpita Tiwari, is a Mira Road resident. Police are questioning her boyfriend Pankaj Jadhav, her friend and flatmates to ascertain the cause of her death.

Officials said investigations hint at it being a case of suicide.

Tiwari and Jadhav, a 30-year-old animation expert, had arrived at the 19-storey Manavsthal Heights around 3 am to visit a mutual friend, who lives on the 15th floor.Jadhav said they went to sleep around 4 am. Around 7 am, Tiwari’s friend woke up and wanted to use the bathroom, which he found locked from the inside.

He told police he assumed Tiwari was inside and did not knock again until half-an-hour later, when she still did not respond.“The friend woke up Jadhav, who helped him find a key to the washroom. They opened the door, but did not see Tiwari inside. They, however, noticed that a glass pane of the window had been removed and set on the floor,” said an officer from the Malwani police station.

Jadhav and a few roommates peeked outside, while some others went down to look for Tiwari. The building manager told HT that two men had asked around for Tiwari.

Jadhav and his friend found Tiwari’s body in second floor duct between two building wings between 7.30 am and 8 am. Soon after, the manager called the police.Police said Jadhav and Tiwari had been in a relationship for the past five years. Their families knew of this and there were talks of marriage, the couple’s mutual friends told police.

Police said they have not found a suicide note. They have recovered alcohol bottles from the apartment and have sent Tiwari’s body for an autopsy.