A 36-year-old man allegedly strangled his 63-year-old adoptive mother before dying by suicide at their rented flat in Varachha, Surat, police confirmed on Saturday, 2 August 2025. A handwritten note recovered from the scene indicated the man was under severe financial distress after accumulating debts of approximately ₹45 lakh through stock market trading losses.

What Happened

The incident took place on Friday at a first-floor flat in Rupam Society, A.K. Road, in the Ashwinikumar area of Varachha. The deceased have been identified as Jatin Sonani, 36, and his adoptive mother Bhanuben, 63. Neighbours grew suspicious when the house remained shut through Friday afternoon and neither resident was seen outside. After repeated knocking drew no response, a neighbour peered through a window and spotted Bhanuben lying motionless on a bed and Jatin hanging inside the room. Police were immediately alerted.

What the Suicide Note Said

Investigators recovered a one-page handwritten suicide note from the premises. According to police, the note referenced financial difficulties, detailed a list of individuals to whom money was owed, and sought forgiveness from family members. Jatin reportedly wrote that he had accumulated debts of around ₹45 lakh in the stock market and could not bring himself to disclose the situation to his mother. Police estimate his total debt at between ₹40 lakh and ₹50 lakh.

Background and Family History

Jatin had reportedly quit his job at a stationery shop approximately two-and-a-half to three months before the incident and had since been actively trading on the stock market through his phone, according to officials. Bhanuben, meanwhile, supported the household through sewing work done from home. The family originally belonged to Mahesanka village in Gariyadhar taluka of Bhavnagar district. Jatin was the biological son of his younger uncle, Tribhuvan, but was adopted at the age of six months by his childless elder uncle Jagdish and Bhanuben. Following Jagdish's death in 2014, the mother and son had continued living together in the rented Varachha flat.

Forensic Findings and Investigation

Both bodies were sent to SMIMER Hospital for forensic postmortem examination. The postmortem report indicated that Bhanuben died after being strangled with a rope, wire, or similar material, while Jatin died by hanging. A rope and a rubber band were recovered from the scene. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, police said.

The case underscores the mounting human cost of retail trading losses — a pattern that has drawn increasing concern from financial regulators and mental health professionals alike. Authorities have not yet ruled out any additional angle in the investigation.