A shocking tragedy unfolded in Kolkata when a high-speed car crash on the EM Bypass led police to a gruesome discovery—a home in Tangra where three women were found dead under mysterious circumstances. What initially appeared to be a routine accident has now turned into a complex murder-suicide investigation, with financial distress, cryptic last actions, and an apparent suicide pact emerging as key factors.
Car Crash Leads to Startling Confession
The chain of events began at 3:35 a.m. on Wednesday when a speeding sedan, carrying Prasun Dey (48), his younger brother Pranay Dey (44), and Pranay’s teenage son Pratip (14), crashed into a pillar near the Avishikta crossing at nearly 100 kmph. Miraculously, all three survived and were rushed to the hospital. However, hours later, while lying in his hospital bed, Pranay made a shocking revelation—three family members were dead inside their home in Tangra.
A House of Death: Bloodstains, Slashed Wrists, and Poisoning Suspicions
When police broke open the Dey residence’s main door, they discovered a horrifying scene. The three women—Sudeshna (Pranay’s wife), Romi (his sister-in-law), and Priyamvada (his 14-year-old niece)—were found in separate rooms with bloodstains scattered across multiple areas.
The autopsy revealed grim details—Sudeshna and Romi had their throats slit and wrists slashed, while Priyamvada showed signs of poisoning, with bruises on her lips and near her nose, and froth at her mouth. However, forensic experts found no traces of toxins in the bodies, deepening the mystery surrounding their deaths.
Suicide Pact or Foul Play? The Missing Pieces
Joint CP (Crime & Traffic) Rupesh Kumar stated that Pranay confessed to a suicide pact. According to him, the family had laced payesh (a traditional Bengali dessert) with sedatives, intending to die together. Some family members also inflicted self-harm. However, while the women perished, the three men instead got into the car—potentially aiming for a fatal crash.
Despite Pranay’s confession, investigators are not ruling out foul play. A murder complaint was filed by Romi’s father against unknown persons, raising further suspicion. The crime scene yielded only one penknife, but experts suspect that blunt force injuries might also be involved. A forensic team, homicide squad, and mobile DNA unit have been deployed to analyze the evidence.
Financial Woes and Cryptic Final Hours
Investigators suspect that financial struggles may have pushed the Dey family over the edge. Once affluent, their leather goods manufacturing and export business had suffered massive losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their factory, Protective Leather Gloves Pvt Ltd, had seen dwindling manpower, and the owners had grown visibly anxious in recent months.
A day before the tragedy, unusual visitors—described as “well-built men”—were seen loitering outside their factory, possibly debt collectors or creditors. That same evening, a business partner, Manoj Gupta, visited their home but received no response. CCTV footage later showed the Dey brothers leaving their house around 12:54 a.m., appearing visibly distressed.
Murder or Desperate Escape? Police Probe ‘What-Ifs’
While Pranay’s claim of a suicide pact offers one explanation, the police are exploring alternative possibilities. What happened in the critical hours between the family consuming the drugged dessert and the car crash? Were all members willing participants in the pact, or did someone force them into it?
Neighbors say the Deys rarely quarreled, but CCTV footage of Pranay appearing unsteady before leaving the house suggests he was under extreme stress. Once a prominent family in Kolkata’s business circles, the Deys owned multiple cars and a four-storey home. Yet, behind the walls of their Tangra residence, a devastating secret was festering.
Whether this was a meticulously planned group suicide or a desperate attempt to cover up a murder remains to be seen as police continue their investigation.
