Mumbai: Accused in air hostess murder case allegedly hangs self with his pants in police custody

The accused, Bikram Atwal, with the Powai police

The prime accused in the murder case of an air hostess was found dead inside a police lockup in Mumbai's Andheri on Friday. The 35-year-old Bikram Atwal allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself using his pants. Agarwal had been arrested in connection with murdering and attempting to rape a 23-year-old air hostess on September 3.

The accused was employed as a sweeper in the society where the victim air hostess lived with her sister in Powai. Athwal was apprehended after the police noticed injuries on his face and hands. On Tuesday Andheri court remanded Atwal to police custody for three days till September 8.

According to police officials, the accused was taken to the police station on Thursday night for investigation and subsequently placed inside the lock-up.

A police source told midday.com that "Athwal appeared to be in a state of depression after his arrest. His behavior changed drastically after two days, as he became quiet and was crying while in custody. He also mentioned his wife and two children, aged 1 year and 10 years old."

On Thursday night, Athwal removed his paint and allegedly used it to hang himself from the lockup window. He was immediately taken to Cooper Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Also read: Mumbai crime: Killer of air hostess had rape on his mind, she hit him with the sickle he had brought

On September 3, the accused entered the air hostess's flat to clean a clogged bathroom pipeline. While cleaning the bathroom, he attempted to rape the victim, who had only arrived in Mumbai six months earlier and was living with her sister in Powai. In an act of self-defense, the air hostess fought back and struck the accused on multiple occasions, and even used her nails to attack him.

In response, the accused retrieved a knife and stabbed her in the neck, killing her. Following the incident, the accused resumed his normal duties in society, as nobody suspected him. The next day, when the victim's sister was unable to reach her through phone calls, the locals broke open the door and discovered the air hostess lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom. She was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.