In a shocking incident, a 37-year-old woman allegedly pushed her eight-year-old daughter to death from their 29th-floor apartment in a Panvel housing complex on Wednesday morning before jumping off the building herself, police said.
The tragic event took place around 8 AM on March 11 at the Aura building of Marathon Nexon in Palaspe Phata, Panvel.
According to senior police inspector Nitin Thakare of the Panvel City police station, the woman, identified as Maithali Ashish Dua, was reportedly suffering from mental health issues. “She pushed her daughter off the balcony and then jumped herself. Both died on the spot. A case of murder has been registered, and further investigation is underway,” he said.
Police revealed that Maithali was a homemaker and lived with her husband, Ashish Dua, a 41-year-old civil contractor. Initial investigations indicate that she was undergoing psychiatric treatment.
At the time of the incident, Ashish was about to enter the bathroom of their bedroom when Maithali suddenly pushed him out and locked the door from inside. As he banged on the door from outside, their daughter cried for help, knocking on the door from within. Moments later, Ashish heard the balcony window open, followed by sudden silence. Suspicious, he rushed to another window and saw a crowd gathering below.
The couple had a love marriage in 2012. Ashish, originally from Agra, is of Punjabi origin, while Maithali was Maharashtrian.
Police have registered a case of murder against the deceased mother and are continuing their investigation.