Indore Boyfriend Kills Girlfriend then Performs Witchcraft to Speak to her Spirit
A 24-year-old from Indore was found murdered in her classmate Piyush Dhamnotiya’s rented flat, leading to his arrest in Panvel amid evidence of relationship conflict and leaked videos.
On 10 February 2026, a 24-year-old MBA student from Indore left home after saying she needed to correct her Aadhaar card. Later, she informed her younger sister that she was going to a birthday gathering with her classmate, Piyush Dhamnotiya, and would return by 11 p.m. Around that time, a message was sent from her phone saying she would not be coming home, after which the phone was switched off. When she did not return the next morning, her father filed a missing person report.
On 13 February, residents of Uncle Gali in Indore reported a foul smell coming from a locked flat rented by Piyush. Police opened the flat and found the woman’s decomposed body. Her father identified her by her socks. Forensic teams recovered ropes, a broken knife and other items. CCTV footage showed her entering the flat with Piyush on 10 February and him leaving alone a few hours later.
The two had been in a long-term relationship, but family disapproval and recent arguments had created tension. According to early reports, they met at the flat to discuss their relationship, but an argument escalated. Investigators say the woman refused sexual advances, after which Piyush allegedly tied her hands and feet, gagged her, and strangled her. When he realised she was no longer breathing, he stabbed her with such force that the knife broke.
Police state that he remained in the flat, left briefly to buy beer, returned to drink beside the body, and then sexually assaulted her post-mortem before fleeing.
Piyush travelled to Panvel, stayed in inexpensive hotels, kept moving locations and rode local trains to avoid detection. Police say he performed tantric rituals, claiming he wanted to summon the victim’s spirit, and destroyed her phone in Maharashtra. He was later traced with the help of Mumbai Police and brought back to Indore.
The victim’s father had earlier said she was distressed because objectionable videos involving her were being leaked. Police later confirmed that 11 such videos of the couple had been shared in a college group and posted to her WhatsApp status, making this a significant part of the investigation.
On 17 February, when surrounded by media, Piyush appeared unusually calm and dismissed questions about the motive, saying, “Whatever happened has happened,” and claiming he would reveal the reason “when the time comes.” Officers described his behaviour as emotionally detached. Investigators also reported that he had previously enacted a symbolic marriage with the woman and, after the crime, expressed remorse, spoke about communicating with her spirit, and wrote on paper that he had committed a “grave wrong” and wanted to die.
