A 22‑year‑old MBA student accused of murdering his girlfriend in Indore was arrested in Mumbai on Monday, days after the victim’s body was discovered in a rented accommodation, police said, in a case that has shaken local communities and drawn attention for disturbing details about the suspect’s behaviour while on the run.

The police identified the accused as Piyush Dhamnodiya, a resident of Mandsaur district and a classmate of the 24‑year‑old woman. According to investigators, he confessed to strangling her to death on February 10 during a dispute allegedly linked to their relationship and pressure over marriage.

Neighbors in the Dwarkapuri area of Indore alerted authorities on February 13 after noticing a foul smell from the victim’s locked room. When police entered, they found her body — naked and with clear signs of strangulation — leading to an immediate murder investigation.

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After killing her, Dhamnodiya reportedly fled Indore by train and reached Panvel before arriving in Mumbai, where he spent time travelling on local trains. Police said he even destroyed the victim’s mobile phone in an attempt to erase evidence before his capture in the Andheri area with assistance from Mumbai Police.

Investigators revealed shocking behaviour by the accused while absconding: he allegedly travelled to a secluded area near Panvel and attempted occult or tantric rituals, including lighting incense and watching online videos on how to “summon spirits,” claiming he wanted to communicate with the woman’s spirit. Police described these actions as indicative of a disturbed mental state after the crime.

Authorities are conducting further forensic and digital evidence analysis, including CCTV footage, chat records, and materials seized from both the Indore crime scene and the site of the alleged rituals, to build the case. The investigation has also sparked wider discussions about relationship dynamics, mental health, and the safety of students in urban environments.

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