Pimpri Chinchwad: In a disturbing turn of events, a man accused in his wife’s murder died by suicide inside the restroom of Chikhali Police Station on Saturday, April 18. The deceased, Sharad Chitale, allegedly ingested a floor-cleaning chemical while in police custody for questioning.
Chitale had previously attempted to take his life by hanging himself at his residence on April 13, shortly after allegedly strangling his wife, Kanchan Chitale. Kanchan, who worked as an ASHA health worker, was found unconscious at the couple’s home and was rushed to YCM Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. Sharad, who worked with a private company, was admitted to a private hospital in Nigdi following the incident.
Initially, authorities registered the case as an accidental death. However, a postmortem report released on April 18 confirmed that Kanchan had died due to strangulation, shifting the focus of the investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that Sharad may have murdered his wife over suspicions related to her character and then attempted suicide.
After being discharged from the hospital, Sharad was summoned to Chikhali Police Station for further inquiry. During the session, he requested to use the restroom, locked himself inside, and consumed a toxic cleaning chemical.
Assistant Police Inspector Mote and his team forced open the restroom door and found him in a critical condition. He was rushed to YCM Hospital, where he passed away around 2:50 AM on April 19.
Police have once again filed an accidental death report in connection with Sharad’s demise. Meanwhile, senior officials are expected to carry out a thorough investigation to uncover further details surrounding both deaths.
