The principal suspect in the murder case involving a tragic incident with an air hostess was discovered deceased within a police detention facility in Mumbai’s Andheri district. The 35-year-old individual, identified as Bikram Atwal, is believed to have taken his own life by hanging, reportedly using his own pants as a makeshift noose. Atwal had been taken into custody on charges related to the murder and attempted rape of a 23-year-old air hostess, which occurred on September 3.
The accused had been working as a janitor in the housing complex where the victim air hostess resided, alongside her sister in Powai. Atwal’s arrest had come about after the police noted visible injuries on his face and hands. The Andheri court had ordered Atwal to be held in police custody for a period of three days, extending until September 8.
According to law enforcement authorities, Atwal had been brought to the police station for questioning on Thursday night and subsequently placed inside the detention cell. A source within the police force revealed that “Atwal appeared to be in a state of deep distress following his apprehension. His demeanor changed dramatically over the course of two days, becoming increasingly withdrawn while in custody. He also mentioned his wife and two children, aged 1 year and 10 years old.” Atwal used his pants to fashion a makeshift noose and took his own life by hanging from the window of his cell. He was immediately rushed to Cooper Hospital, where he was subsequently declared deceased.
The incident on September 3 unfolded when the accused entered the air hostess’s apartment with the intention of repairing a clogged bathroom pipeline. While in the process of addressing the plumbing issue, he attempted to sexually assault the victim, who had only recently arrived in Mumbai, residing with her sister in Powai. In a valiant act of self-defense, the air hostess fought back fiercely, striking Atwal multiple times and using her nails to resist his advances.
In response to her resistance, the accused retrieved a knife and fatally stabbed her in the neck, resulting in her tragic demise. Following the gruesome incident, the accused resumed his daily responsibilities within the housing complex, as his actions had gone unnoticed. It wasn’t until the following day, when the victim’s sister was unable to reach her via phone calls, that concerned neighbors took it upon themselves to forcibly enter the apartment. There, they discovered the air hostess lying lifeless in a pool of blood within the bathroom. She was immediately rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where her untimely death was confirmed.