CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: For nearly a day after his family left home and never returned, Sheru, the pet dog of the Chandgude family, remained locked inside the house, howling until police opened the residence on Saturday for the panchnama.On Sunday, Kunal Chandgude’s maternal grandfather, Babanrao Gabhude, handed Sheru over to the Aurangabad Pet Lovers’ Association (APLA), where the dog will be cared for following the deaths of Kunal and his parents at Khavdya Dongar on Friday.The tragedy claimed the lives of 18-year-old Kunal, a NEET aspirant, his father Murlidhar and mother Sangeeta after the teenager went to the cliff and threatened to end his life. A prolonged effort by his parents, police, fire brigade personnel and others to persuade him to step away from the edge ended in tragedy.Police said their preliminary investigation has pointed to serious differences within the family, with investigators ruling out initial speculation that an unmet demand for a high-end iPhone was the trigger.Deputy commissioner of police Pankaj Atulkar said the preliminary probe indicated that the tragedy stemmed from “serious differences” within the family. Investigators found that both Kunal and his mother were already using iPhones.“It appears that during these disputes, Kunal sided with his mother,” Atulkar said.Assistant police inspector Naresh Thakre said the family had been facing differences after Murlidhar patched up with his daughters a few months ago and began interacting with them more frequently.“The probe has revealed that after patching up with his sisters a few months ago, Murlidhar’s increased interaction with them had become a source of differences between him and his wife, and this distressed Kunal,” Thakre said.Police have also found that Kunal had gone to the same cliff last year and threatened to end his life. He was subsequently counselled by police personnel and reunited with his family.“Last year he reached the cliff and threatened to end his life after his demand for an iPhone was not met. We counselled him. This year, there was something else,” constable Suresh Bhise, who responded to both incidents, said.According to police, Kunal reached the cliff around 10am on Friday and called his parents, telling them that he intended to die. Murlidhar rushed to the spot, followed by Sangeeta, a family friend, police personnel and fire brigade teams.Counselling efforts continued for nearly two hours as Kunal remained near the edge.Former sarpanch Sanjay Jadhav, who was present at the scene, said Sangeeta repeatedly pleaded with her son to step back.“While trying to convince Kunal, she removed her mangalsutra and told him she would leave her husband and stay with him. She also said she would break her SIM card,” Jadhav said.Police and witnesses said Kunal repeatedly told those trying to counsel him that he had no alternative. However, officials believed that their efforts were beginning to work.“It appeared that Kunal had almost agreed to return. Around the same time, Murlidhar came from behind and tried to pull him away from the edge,” Bhise said.Initially, Murlidhar moved away from the spot at Kunal’s insistence but later returned. Eyewitnesses said Kunal lost his balance while trying to move away from the edge. His father also fell while attempting to save him.Moments later, Sangeeta jumped from the cliff. All three died on the spot.Police said the rescue operation was particularly challenging as Kunal kept changing his position along the edge. MIDC Waluj inspector Rameshwar Gadhe said fire brigade personnel stationed below had to repeatedly move the safety net.“The safety net was about 15 to 20 feet away from the spot where the father and son fell,” Gadhe said.Investigators later found study material related to the NEET examination at the family’s home. Police said Kunal was considered a bright student and had scored more than 90% in Class X.The investigation has also revealed that Kunal was the couple’s only surviving child. Their elder son, Kapil, died of illness about a decade ago at the age of 10.Murlidhar worked as a driver with a transport company in the Waluj industrial area and had reportedly been saving money to buy a heavy vehicle around Diwali, relatives told police.Police are continuing to investigate the family dispute and whether any recent development may have acted as a trigger.“We are trying to ascertain whether the iPhones used by Sangeeta and Kunal were purchased on EMI and whether there were any issues in repaying those instalments, as claimed by some acquaintances,” Thakre said.Investigators have also found videos posted by Sangeeta on social media in which she allegedly referred indirectly to personal difficulties. Police said the videos have strengthened their suspicion that the family had been going through a period of distress.Following the autopsies, Murlidhar’s body was taken to his native village, Dhangar Pimpalgaon in Jalna district. The last rites of Sangeeta and Kunal were performed at Mukundwadi in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at the insistence of her father, Gabhude.
