Nagpur: Nearly two months after the tragic death of 18-year-old Nakshatra Wankhede, daughter of BAMS doctors Dr Arun and Dr Sushma Wankhede, Wardha police have arrested her father following fresh evidence.
The teen was found dead on December 6, 2025, in her residence at Dreamland City, Sawangi (Meghe). Initial reports suggested an accidental death caused by helium gas inhalation. However, new findings—including handwritten notes recovered from Nakshatra’s study room and evidence of a helium gas cylinder—prompted a re-investigation.
Nakshatra’s mother, Dr Sushma Wankhede, filed a complaint accusing her husband of abetting her daughter’s suicide. The notes allegedly detailed years of verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental harassment by Dr Arun, who reportedly made repeated derogatory remarks and displayed extramarital relationships.
Based on the complaint and the recovered evidence, the police registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to abetment of suicide.
A police team, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Saurabh Agrawal and SDPO Pramod Makeshwar, traced Dr Arun to Umarkhed in Yavatmal district. His mobile phone has been seized for digital evidence analysis. Both the helium cylinder and Nakshatra’s handwritten notes have been sent for forensic examination.
Dr Sushma Wankhede, a professor at the School of Ayurveda, Sathya Sai University, Bhopal, and her husband had previously worked at a medical college in Wardha. Nakshatra was pursuing her education in Wardha at the time of her death.
Inspector Pankaj Gajanan Waghode, leading the investigation, confirmed that statements are being recorded and timelines and procurement records are being verified. Dr Arun Wankhede has been remanded in police custody for four days and is scheduled to be produced in court on Friday.
