Praveen Mittal, who died by suicide along with six members of his family in Panchkula, was reportedly burdened by a massive debt of approximately ₹20 crore, according to his cousin Sandeep Agarwal. The family comprising Mr. Mittal, his elderly parents, wife, and three young children, died by suicide on Monday night.
A suicide note recovered from the scene included a request: that Mr. Mittal’s cousin perform the last rites. “He spoke to me five days ago,” Agarwal said.
Mittal had earlier set up a scrap factory in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, but financial troubles led to its seizure by the bank. Following this setback, he left Panchkula and shifted to Dehradun, cutting ties with relatives for nearly six years. Over the years, he moved from Dehradun to Kharar in Punjab and then to Pinjore, Haryana. A month ago, he returned to Panchkula and worked as a taxi driver in the Saketri area.
Spiritual Journey Turns Fatal
On Monday, the family, who resided in Dehradun, had visited Bageshwar Dham for a spiritual gathering. While returning, they allegedly consumed poison and died in a suicide pact.
The incident came to light when a local, out for a walk, noticed a car with an Uttarakhand number plate parked behind his vehicle. A man, believed to be Praveen Mittal, sat on the pavement nearby.
“What we found odd was a towel hanging from the car,” the resident recalled. “My brother and I approached him. He told us they were returning from Bageshwar Dham and had decided to sleep in the car as they couldn’t find a hotel. I suggested he move the car to a busier area.”
When the man tried to get up, the resident sensed something unusual and checked the car. What he saw was horrifying six bodies, all showing signs of poisoning.
“I saw six people lying flat. They had vomited on each other. The car was stinking. I pulled the man away and asked what the matter was. He then said his family had died in a suicide pact and that he would die too, in five minutes. The man claimed to be under huge debt,” the resident recounted.
Though the family was rushed to the hospital, doctors declared them dead. “The man could have survived if the ambulance had arrived on time,” the resident added.