Inspector Meenakshi Gokhale found dead at residence in Khajuri Sadak; boyfriend discovered hanging nearby
Bhopal — A 45-year-old Regional Transport Office (RTO) inspector was found dead at her residence in the Khajuri Sadak area on Monday morning, and police said a man believed to be her boyfriend was later located hanging from a tree near the house in what investigators have described as an apparent suicide.
According to Khajuri Sadak police, the deceased has been identified as Meenakshi Gokhale, an RTO inspector who lived in Lekhpal Colony near Bhanwari Jod. Her body bore severe head injuries, and a bloodstained hammer was recovered close to her. A roommate reported the discovery to police at about 7 am.
Police said the man found dead by hanging has been identified in the preliminary probe as Pawan Kumar Dwivedi, who had reportedly arrived in Bhopal from Sidhi district two days before the incident and was staying at Gokhale's residence. Investigators said Dwivedi had been pressing for marriage, while Gokhale was not prepared to marry him; the couple are believed to have argued late on Sunday.
- Victim: Meenakshi Gokhale, 45, RTO inspector; severe head injuries; bloodstained hammer recovered.
- Suspected assailant: Pawan Kumar Dwivedi, reportedly from Sidhi; found hanging about 20 metres from the house.
- Complaint: Roommate alerted police at around 7 am; crime scene examined by Khajuri Sadak police and forensic teams.
Officials said preliminary inquiries indicate an argument over marriage intentions preceded the incident. Police have recovered a bank passbook from the man’s pocket and noted he had earlier run coaching classes in Indore and was preparing for competitive examinations, according to the initial probe.
Police said the circumstances of the case would become clearer after the post-mortem report is received.
Forensic teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) inspected the scene and conducted a detailed examination, police added. The body of the RTO inspector has been sent for post-mortem; authorities are awaiting the forensic and autopsy reports to determine cause of death and sequence of events.
Local context and administrative implications
The case raises questions about the safety and domestic circumstances of public servants working in the city’s transport department. While investigators have pointed to a personal dispute as the likely trigger, police emphasis remains on establishing the full chain of events through forensic evidence and medical findings.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Khajuri Sadak, Lekhpal Colony (near Bhanwari Jod), Bhopal |
| Time reported | Around 7 am (roommate reported discovery) |
| Items recovered | Bloodstained hammer; bank passbook (from man's pocket) |
Investigating officers said they will depend on FSL findings and the post-mortem to confirm whether the head injuries were inflicted prior to the man’s death and to ascertain the nature of wounds. Detectives are also pursuing background checks and any digital or documentary evidence that may clarify the relationship and prior communication between the two individuals.
Authorities did not immediately disclose whether they had registered any formal complaint earlier between the parties. Local police are expected to share further updates after completion of forensic and medico-legal formalities.
The incident underlines the challenges faced by law enforcement in distinguishing between domestic disputes and incidents that have wider criminal implications; investigators said they will pursue all lines of inquiry while awaiting the forensic and post-mortem reports.
