Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Datia RTO Inspector Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide
Meenakshi Gokhle, a government transport officer, was found dead in a house in Bhopal.
Police found injuries on her head and a hammer with blood on it.
The house belonged to Pawan Kumar Dwivedi, whom Gokhle knew.
Police believe the two may have argued about marriage.
They suspect Pawan attacked Meenakshi and later hanged himself from a nearby tree.
Meenakshi’s friend and young daughter were also in the house.
The friend found Meenakshi the next morning and called police.
Investigators are waiting for the post-mortem report to learn exactly what happened.
Meenakshi Gokhle, 35, was found dead inside a Bhopal house on Monday morning.
Police found head injuries on Gokhle and a blood-stained hammer near her body.
The house belonged to Pawan Kumar Dwivedi, who police suspect later died by suicide.
Investigators are examining whether a dispute over marriage preceded the suspected attack.
A friend and Gokhle’s three-year-old daughter were in the house when the incident occurred.
- Who
- Datia RTO Inspector Meenakshi Gokhle was found dead; Pawan Kumar Dwivedi is the person police suspect may have attacked her and later died by suicide.
- What
- Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide involving Gokhle’s death and Dwivedi’s suspected hanging.
- When
- Gokhle was found on Monday morning after arriving at the house around 7 p.m. on Sunday.
- Where
- A house in Lake Pearl Colony, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; Dwivedi was reportedly found hanging from a tree about 20 metres away.
- Why
- Police suspect a dispute over marriage may have led to the alleged attack, but the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Investigators’ theory
Family’s account
Possible motive
Investigators’ theory
Police suspect Pawan wanted to marry Meenakshi and that an argument occurred because she was not ready for the marriage.
Family’s account
Meenakshi’s father said the family knew Pawan and had planned to discuss their inter-caste marriage with his family.
Sequence of events
Investigators’ theory
Police suspect Pawan attacked Meenakshi with a hammer, moved her body inside, and later died by suicide outside.
Family’s account
The family account confirms Meenakshi travelled to Bhopal with her daughter and friend but does not establish the exact sequence of the deaths.
- Victim
- Meenakshi Gokhle, 35, a Datia RTO inspector
- Location
- Lake Pearl Colony, Bhopal
- Suspected weapon
- A blood-stained hammer found near Gokhle’s body
- Suspected motive
- Police are examining a possible dispute over marriage
- Other person involved
- Pawan Kumar Dwivedi, 35, who reportedly knew Gokhle
- Discovery
- Gokhle’s friend found her body around 7 a.m. Monday
- Next step
- Police said the post-mortem report will help establish the circumstances