Hardik Shah kills live-in partner, stores her body in bed box in Mumbai

There are a number of factors that may be contributing to the rise in live-in partner murder.

In yet another shocking incident, the decomposed body of 35-year-old woman named Megha Dhansingh Torvi was recovered from a single bed cavity in Mumbai's Nalasopara. According to reports, the murder was committed two days ago.

According to the senior police inspector Shailendra Nagarkar, the accused identified as 27-year-old Hardik Shah, stayed at Sita Sadan building on Tulinj Road in Nalasopara East along with his live-in partner Megha for the past two months.

While Hardik was unemployed, Megha used to work as a nurse and was the sole breadwinner. And this led to frequent quarrels between them over financial issues which resulted in the murder, a report in NDTV quoted the police as saying in a statement.

The incident took place on February 12 when the couple had a fight after which Shah smothered Megha to death. He then dumped her body in the cavity of the bed. Hardik allegedly sold household items and other furniture in the local market for some cash. The accused then tried to flee Palghar. On information that he was fleeing by train, the police tracked down his location and the railway police arrested him in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh.

The accused also informed his sister about the killing via text message sold off furniture in the flat before fleeing, Nagarkar said.

A case of section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and investigation is underway, the police official said.

The incident came to light after residents of the building reported a foul smell from the room and informed the local police about it. The police broke open the door and found the woman's body hidden in the bed cavity.

"We have registered a case of murder and have begun scanning through the CCTVs of the area and Shah's mobile phone location. We have found out that he had boarded a train to Rajasthan from Mumbai Central railway station on Monday morning," said Shailendra Nagarkar, senior police inspector of Tulinj police station.

The police officers further said that with the help of the Railway Police Force, they intercepted Shah from Nagda railway station in Rajasthan and arrested him. "Our officers are in the process of getting custody of Shah and bringing him to Mumbai," he added.

These recent crime is also a chilling reminder of a similar case in 2022 when Aftab Poonawala murdered his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar by strangling her and cutting her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in the locality in that lies in South Delhi before dumping them across the city.

A disturbing trend

It is noteworthy to mention that the rise of live-in partner murder is a disturbing trend that has been observed in many parts of the world including India. While the reasons for this increase are complex and multifaceted, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue and to provide support and resources for those who are at risk of domestic violence.

There are a number of factors that may be contributing to the rise in live-in partner murder. In some countries, such as India, live-in relationships are still considered taboo, and couples who choose this option may face social stigma and discrimination. This can lead to increased tensions and conflict within the relationship, which may in turn escalate into violence.

Another factor that may be contributing to the rise in live-in partner murder is the overall increase in incidents of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a complex and multifaceted issue that can be caused by a range of factors, including poverty, substance abuse, mental health issues, and a history of violence. As more people become aware of the impact of domestic violence and the need to report it, the number of reported incidents is likely to increase.