Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Family Cliff Deaths Leave Motive Unresolved After iPhone Theory
A 19-year-old named Kunal went to a hill and reportedly said he wanted to die.
His parents went after him and tried to persuade him to move away from the cliff.
Police said Kunal then lost his balance while his father tried to pull him back.
Kunal and his father fell, and his mother also fell soon afterward.
At first, people thought an iPhone and money problems had caused the tragedy.
Police now say the phone was not the reason.
They are investigating whether disagreements between Kunal’s parents and other family problems played a role.
Videos show that the family also shared affection, but they cannot explain exactly what happened.
Because everyone directly involved died, the true reason may remain unknown.
Kunal Chandgude, 19, fell from Khawadya Hill after reportedly threatening suicide, and his parents died after trying to intervene.
Police said footage appears to show Kunal losing balance while his father, Murlidhar, tried to pull him back; Sangita then also fell.
Initial reports linked the deaths to an iPhone and alleged pressure over monthly instalments, but police now reject that explanation.
Investigators are examining possible tensions between Murlidhar and Sangita, including disagreements over his family and property matters.
With all three family members dead, police say the exact trigger and sequence may never be established.
- Who
- Kunal Chandgude, 19, and his parents, Murlidhar Chandgude and Sangita Chandgude, died in the incident.
- What
- The three family members fell from a cliff while police and the parents were responding to Kunal’s reported suicide threat.
- When
- The incident occurred on August 21; the family reportedly arrived around 10 a.m., and the fall occurred around 1 p.m.
- Where
- Khawadya Hill near Tisgaon in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
- Why
- The motive remains unresolved. Police are examining possible marital and broader family disputes, while the earlier iPhone and EMI theory has been rejected.
Initial iPhone Explanation
Family-Dispute Investigation
What may have triggered the crisis
Initial iPhone Explanation
Initial police reports and early coverage suggested Kunal wanted an iPhone or had bought one, creating pressure over EMI payments and household finances.
Family-Dispute Investigation
Investigating Officer Naresh Thakre said an iPhone was not the reason and pointed instead to a dispute between Murlidhar and Sangita.
How the family’s circumstances are interpreted
Initial iPhone Explanation
The first narrative portrayed the deaths as the result of a son’s phone-related conflict with his parents.
Family-Dispute Investigation
Police and later reporting focused on marital tensions, Murlidhar’s renewed contact with his family, property concerns and possible disagreement over financial support to relatives.
What the videos establish
Initial iPhone Explanation
The footage shows Kunal at the cliff and his parents trying to intervene, supporting the account that the fall happened during a rescue attempt.
Family-Dispute Investigation
Videos of family affection and Sangita’s social-media posts complicate simple explanations but do not establish the motive, responsibility or precise sequence of events.
- Victims
- Kunal Chandgude, Murlidhar Chandgude and Sangita Chandgude
- Location
- Khawadya Hill near Tisgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
- Cliff height
- Reports described the cliff as approximately 200 to 250 feet high.
- Initial theory
- Early reports attributed the tragedy to an iPhone-related dispute and pressure over EMI payments.
- Current police focus
- Assistant Police Inspector Naresh Thakre said a dispute between Murlidhar and Sangita appeared more relevant.
- Family background
- Murlidhar and Sangita had been married for about 22 years and had reportedly lived apart for several months.
- Previous incident
- Police said Kunal had attempted suicide at the same location the previous year but was persuaded to leave safely.
- Complaint status
- Police said no family member had come forward to lodge a complaint.
