Three members of a family, including an infant, were found dead in their home in south Kolkata’s Haltu area on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) morning. This incident comes days after the Tangra tragedy in which three women were found dead. There are many similarities to both incidents.
The deceased have been identified as Somnath Roy, 40; his wife, Sumitra Roy, 35.
A case was filed under sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 3(5) (joint criminal liability), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) by Suparna Bhowmick, elder sister of Mrs. Roy, against Pradip Kumar Ghoshal and Nilima Ghoshal, relatives of the deceased. The two have been arrested.
Mrs. Roy’s father also filed a case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) of the BNS against unknown persons.
According to a top official of the Kolkata Police, a “note” was found written in pencil on the walls of the home.
The “note” mentions five people — including two relatives — in connection with family disputes and debts, the Kolkata Police official said. The persons mentioned are currently being investigated, and the financial condition of the family is being examined.
Kolkata Police sources added that Mr. Roy was an autorickshaw driver and owned one auto. A relative last saw him at home at around 9 p.m. on Monday (March 3, 2025).
The bodies were discovered by personnel from the local police station who broke into the house at around 11.15 a.m. on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) after receiving a tip from locals. The door of the house was bolted from inside.
Tangra accused remanded
In a related development, Prasun Dey, who was arrested on Monday night for the murder of his wife, daughter, and sister-in-law at their home in Tangra, has been remanded to police custody till March 6, 2025.
The three women were found with cuts and bruises in their Tangra home hours after the male members of the family (two brothers and a minor son) met with a serious car accident at Kolkata’s Eastern Metropolitan Bypass early on February 19.
According to Kolkata Police sources, the younger of the two brothers, Prasun Dey, has admitted to killing his daughter, wife, and sister-in-law on the morning of February 18 as part of an alleged “suicide pact.”
Investigators have discovered that the Dey family — who own a glove manufacturing business — owes ₹16 crore to six banks and financial institutions, besides car loans of ₹47 lakh for two luxury vehicles. All their bank accounts were overdrawn, and the home was mortgaged.
Police sources said Mr. Prasun Dey’s older brother, Pranay Dey, is still at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital. When Mr. Pranay Dey is discharged, the two brothers will be questioned together.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police are yet to ascertain the next course of action with Pranay’s minor son, who also survived the car accident. So far, no relative has come forward to take custody of the boy. The Dey home remains sealed as part of the investigation.
Published – March 05, 2025 04:29 am IST