Pune, March 22, 2025 – The Pune police have apprehended Madhav Teketi, a 35-year-old man who claimed to have taken courses at IIT Bangalore.
Allegedly, he murdered his three-and-a-half year-old son, Himmat. The alleged murder shocked the Chandannagar neighborhood, where the family lived.
Marital Discord and Doubts
Madhav had not worked for two months following his departure from a multinational corporation.
He harbored extreme bouts of suspicion regarding his wife, Swaroopa, and their disputes were often due to his distrust.
He had some suspicion about Himmat not being his son, which police later indicated might have led to the child’s demise.
Disappearances and First Inquiry
Reviews indicate that Swaroopa went to the Chandannagar Police Station on Thursday afternoon.
He reported that both her husband and child had gone missing. She had gone to police to report that both she and her husband left the home together.
Then they walked outside after leaving at some point before 12:30 PM and hadn’t come back. She filed a missing persons report because she was worried about their well-being. The police began a first inquiry.
CCTV Footage and Breakthrough
Investigators quickly analyzed the CCTV footage from the residence complex of the family.
The footage showed Madhav leaving with Himmat around 2:30 PM. By around 5 PM, Madhav had shown up to a store alone, shopping for clothes. Hence, it raised suspicions about the child.
Further review also showed Madhav had purchased a blade, knife from a shop nearby. These actions raised further concerns.
Apprehension and Confession
Using tracking analysis of Madhav’s mobile device, the police were eventually able to track him to a lodge. Reportedly, it was in the Vadgaon Sheri area.
He was found drunk at the lodge and after sobering up, he confessed to murdering the child.
He led police to a location near the Kharadi Dargah, where Himmat’s lifeless body was discovered with his throat cut.
Official Statements
Simi Dhakane, Senior Police Inspector from Chandannagar police station. He said that “Initially, Madhav was evasive and uncooperative, with the police not revealing much information to him. Through ongoing technical review and questioning; Madhav eventually confessed. The case is now filing under the necessary IPC sections and further investigation is now occurring.”
The police are continuing their investigation and Madhav remains in custody.
Community Response
The community of Chandannagar is devastated by the incident. Neighbors were stunned and described the family as quiet and unremarkable.
Many residents found it difficult to reconcile the act with the person they thought they knew.
Moreover, locals are now calling for more awareness and intervention for events. Consequently, involving discord where domestic discord potentially develops into a tragedy.
Domestic Violence Behavioral Patterns
This case emphasizes what could happen when domestic issues are at its worst. Pune has witnessed a couple of similar cases in recent years.
For example, in 2023, a software engineer killed his wife and son, and died by suicide in Aundh, Pune.
In another case, a techie reportedly killed her five-year-old son. Later, he committed suicide in open view by jumping off a building.
These events clearly demonstrate a need for mental health support and simple communication in families and relationships.
Mental health support in particular, in the wake of these tragedies, needs to be a focal point, and support systems must be advertised.
NGOs in Pune such as “Connecting” work with individuals suffering emotional distress.
They have a helpline and in-person service ready for anyone seeking help or support.
