Boyfriend arrested after alleged strangulation, occult claims surface in chilling case
February 17, 2026: A gruesome murder has rocked Indore, where a 24-year-old MBA student was allegedly killed by her classmate and boyfriend, Piyush Dhanotiya. Police said the two studied at the same institute and had been in a long-term relationship. Tensions reportedly escalated as the accused wanted to marry her, while the woman wished to end the relationship amid family opposition. On February 10, she left home with her father, saying she was going to get her Aadhaar card corrected, but never returned. CCTV footage later showed her entering the accused’s flat around 3:25 PM.
According to investigators, a heated argument broke out over marriage and suspicions that she was in contact with another man. Police allege that Dhanotiya, who was reportedly intoxicated, strangled her to death and later stabbed the body. In a shocking turn, he is said to have performed occult rituals and searched online for ways to “contact her soul” after the killing. The victim’s body was recovered from his room on February 13, sending shockwaves across the city.
After the crime, the accused allegedly fled to Mumbai and Panvel, staying in hotels and travelling by local trains to evade arrest. He was apprehended on February 14 and produced before a court on February 15, which remanded him to three days of police custody. The case has stunned residents, highlighting a disturbing mix of jealousy, obsession and superstition.