Maharashtra Hill Tragedy: Victims’ Relative Calls iPhone EMI Claims ‘Rumours’

The family of the three victims in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar tragedy has rejected the claim that an iPhone EMI dispute triggered the deaths. Pallavi Patil, sister of victim Sangita Chandgude, called the narrative a rumour and criticised people for spreading unverified claims on social media. She said people making videos about the family do not know the truth or understand what the relatives are going through. Pallavi urged people to verify information before sharing it online. She said the family is already struggling to cope with the deaths of Sangita, her son Kunal Chandgude and her husband Murlidhar Chandgude. According to the initial narrative, Kunal had bought an iPhone on EMI and sought his parents’ help after struggling to pay the instalments. The family dispute reportedly escalated before the tragic incident, but Pallavi said people should not present the EMI claim as an established fact.

Relative Appeals Against Social Media Rumours

Pallavi recorded a video message while returning after collecting the ashes of her sister, nephew and brother-in-law. She described Sangita as the eldest among her parents’ four children and said the family was struggling to understand how to move forward after the tragedy. Pallavi particularly objected to videos circulating online that allegedly presented a false account of the incident. She said such content was causing immense pain to the family. She also appealed to people to consider the condition of her elderly parents before making or sharing statements about the victims. Pallavi said her parents are around 75 years old and may find such reports extremely difficult to bear. Her emotional appeal came as the investigation continued and different theories about what led to the deaths began circulating. The family has asked people to avoid speculation and respect their privacy during the investigation.

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Police are also examining the family’s earlier problems and strained relationships as they investigate the tragedy. Murlidhar Chandgude worked as a truck driver, while Sangita was a homemaker. The couple had lost their elder son to an illness around six years ago. Sources said the loss contributed to tensions within the family, after which Sangita and Murlidhar reportedly began living separately. Murlidhar often remained away from home for work for several months at a time. He returned home two days before the incident after spending around three months away, and reports suggest that arguments followed his return. Investigators have also found a video in which Sangita spoke about property disputes and family relationships. Police are examining the content to understand its context and determine whether it provides any clues about the circumstances preceding the tragedy. Officials are continuing to examine multiple possible factors rather than relying on a single explanation.

Sangita’s Videos Also Under Investigation

Sangita was active on YouTube and had more than 29,000 subscribers. She frequently posted videos featuring her son Kunal and also discussed relationships and personal values. A day before the tragedy, she uploaded a video in which she spoke about the importance of mutual respect in relationships. She said people should value relationships where both sides respect each other and contribute equally. She also suggested that people should reconsider relationships where only one person continues making efforts. Police are examining her social media posts and older videos as part of the broader investigation. However, investigators will need to establish the context of those posts before linking them to the incident. The videos have attracted attention online because they appeared shortly before the tragedy. Meanwhile, the family has objected to social media users using such content to create unverified theories about the deaths. Officials continue to investigate the circumstances independently.

Police sources have also revealed that Kunal had reportedly visited the same hill about a year earlier with an intention to die by suicide. At that time, police intervened and persuaded him to abandon the attempt before bringing him safely down. On August 21, Kunal again went to the same hill and reportedly threatened to jump. His father, Murlidhar, attempted to stop him, but both fell into a gorge around 250 feet deep. Sangita later jumped from the cliff after witnessing the situation. All three died in the tragedy. Police are now investigating the circumstances that led to the incident, including family disputes, previous incidents, property-related tensions and the claims surrounding the iPhone EMI. The family has rejected the EMI narrative as a rumour and asked people not to spread unverified information. Investigators are expected to examine all available evidence before determining what triggered the tragedy.

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