Indore man kills wife, drowns daughter after suspecting her character
Synopsis
A driver in Indore's Jhalariya village allegedly strangled his wife and threw both children into a pond in the dead of night — his 12-year-old son survived by feigning death and raising the alarm, but his 13-year-old daughter was found dead. The accused, Sunil Chauhan, was taken into custody hours later, reportedly after attempting to end his own life.
Key Takeaways
Sunil Chauhan , a driver from Satwas, Dewas district , allegedly killed his wife Anita by strangling and stabbing her in Jhalariya village, Indore , on the night of 18 August .
He then allegedly threw his two children — Mahi, 13 , and Ajay, 12 — into a nearby pond.
Ajay survived by pretending to be dead, escaped the pond, and alerted villagers, who informed police.
An SDRF team recovered Mahi's body from the pond at approximately 3 am .
Chauhan was found wandering near the scene and taken into custody; police say he also allegedly attempted suicide.
Preliminary investigation points to suspicion over his wife's character as the trigger; police are questioning him to confirm the motive.
A man in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly strangled his wife to death and threw both his minor children into a pond late on Monday night, police said on Tuesday, 18 August. While his 12-year-old son Ajay survived by feigning death and swimming to safety, his 13-year-old daughter Mahi was recovered dead from the pond in the early hours of Tuesday.
How the Night Unfolded
The incident took place around midnight at Jhalariya village under Kanadiya police station limits. According to police, the accused — Sunil Chauhan, a driver and native of Satwas area in neighbouring Dewas district — first took his wife Anita to a secluded spot near their home, where he allegedly strangled and stabbed her before leaving her body there.
Chauhan then returned home, took both children to a nearby pond, and allegedly threw them into the water. Ajay reportedly pretended to be dead, managed to escape, and walked to a neighbouring village where he alerted residents. Police were informed shortly after and reached Chauhan's house around 1 am, but found him absent. He was later found wandering in the vicinity and taken into custody. Police said he had also allegedly attempted to take his own life.
Search and Recovery
With Mahi reported missing, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team was dispatched. Darkness delayed the search, and the team arrived at the pond around 2:30 am. Mahi's body was recovered from the water at approximately 3 am. The bodies of Anita and Mahi were subsequently sent for post-mortem examination. The surviving child, Ajay, is receiving medical care, police confirmed.
Suspected Motive Under Investigation
Preliminary findings suggest Chauhan suspected his wife's fidelity, according to police. However, investigators are questioning him to establish the precise motive and sequence of events. A formal case has been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.
Community Shock and Police Response
The killings have deeply shaken residents of Jhalariya village. Police teams remain deployed in the area as the investigation continues. This incident comes amid broader concerns about domestic violence driven by suspicion and jealousy — a pattern seen in several similar cases across Madhya Pradesh in recent years.
Point of View
But its sequence — a calculated act against a wife followed by an attempt to silence the only two witnesses, his own children. That a 12-year-old's presence of mind saved his life and cracked the case open should not obscure the systemic question: domestic killings rooted in suspicion of a wife's character remain a persistent and underreported pattern in central India. Police attribution of motive to 'suspicion' without further interrogation risks normalising a framing that places the burden on the victim. The investigation must go beyond motive confirmation and examine whether prior complaints or warning signs were missed.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Indore pond murder case on 18 August?
Sunil Chauhan, a driver from Dewas district, allegedly strangled and stabbed his wife Anita in Jhalariya village, Indore, then threw their two children into a nearby pond. His daughter Mahi, 13, died; his son Ajay, 12, survived by feigning death and raising the alarm.
How did the son Ajay survive?
Ajay reportedly pretended to be dead after being thrown into the pond, managed to get out of the water, and walked to a neighbouring village where he alerted residents. Police were subsequently informed and reached the scene around 1 am.
Has the accused Sunil Chauhan been arrested?
Chauhan was taken into custody after being found wandering near the scene. A formal case has been registered and investigation is underway. Police also noted he allegedly attempted to take his own life.
What is the suspected motive in the Indore killing?
Preliminary investigation suggests Chauhan suspected his wife's fidelity, according to police. However, investigators are still questioning him to confirm the exact motive and sequence of events.
What is the current status of the surviving child?
The surviving child, Ajay, is receiving medical care, police confirmed. The bodies of Anita and Mahi have been sent for post-mortem examination.
