Mumbai: Indian Navy sailor Purnamal Mehra (30), who died by suicide in his official residential quarters at Navy Nagar in south Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade area after allegedly killing his wife and two children, had formatted his and wife Uma’s mobile phones and even cleaned the house. Besides this, a senior police officer said, Mehra had also put clothing material to cover the gaps between the door and door frame before ending his life.On August 14 night, Mehra had sent a WhatsApp message to his father Shambhulal in Rajasthan, saying, “Come and take our bodies.” Mehra’s mother saw the message the next day and panicked. She and her husband tried to contact Mehra and when there was no response, they informed the Navy control room. Cuffe Parade police were alerted and they arrived at Mehra’s quarters on August 15. The police found him dead in the living room and the bodies of Uma, three-year-old Darsh and a two-month-old on the bed. Uma and children had died earlier, said police, adding that Mehra was undergoing medical treatment for depression.Prima facie findings indicate that the children may have died due to poisoning. Police suspect a pillow was also used to smother the wife and older son.“He had cleaned the house too. The mobile phones have been sent for cyber analysis though the data has been erased. We are also waiting for the final post-mortem and forensic reports to know the exact cause of deaths,” said a police officer.During preliminary questioning of neighbours and persons known to the family, police learnt that the couple, who had been married for four to five years, were allegedly facing marital discord and frequently quarrelled. Mehra was reportedly not on good terms with his two brothers too.
