Daijiworld Media Network- Panchkula
Panchkula, May 28: In a heartbreaking and shocking incident, seven members of a family, including three young children, were found dead in a parked car at a vacant plot in Sector 27, Panchkula, late Monday night, in what appears to be a carefully planned suicide pact driven by financial distress.
The sole conscious occupant at the time, identified as Parveen Mittal (41), was rescued in a critical state but succumbed shortly after at Civil Hospital in Sector 6. In his final moments, Parveen confessed to consuming poison along with his entire family, citing massive debts running into crores as the reason behind the desperate act.
The deceased include Parveen’s wife Reena, twin daughters Dhruvita and Dilisha (12), son Hardik (14), and his elderly parents Deshraj Mittal and Bimla.
Local resident Harshit Rana, while out for a walk, grew suspicious upon seeing a Dehradun-registered vehicle with windows covered by towels. On knocking, Parveen responded weakly, claiming they were in Panchkula to attend Bageshwar Dham’s Hanumant Katha and had stopped because the children were asleep.
But Harshit sensed something amiss and alerted the police. Another witness, Puneet Rana, peered inside with a flashlight and was horrified to see six lifeless bodies, with signs of vomiting and unconsciousness. Police were called immediately, and a PCR unit reached the site within minutes. Despite being rushed to hospitals, all seven were declared dead by morning.
Originally from Hisar, the family had moved repeatedly — Dehradun, Kharar, Pinjore, and finally to Saketri in Panchkula, apparently fleeing mounting debts. Parveen had recently informed his landlord that they would be “leaving the city” due to school holidays. No one imagined it would be their final departure.
According to Reena’s father Rakesh, Parveen had cut off ties with relatives and was facing extreme financial distress, having earlier owned factories and property in Baddi and Panchkula. Sandeep Aggarwal, Parveen’s cousin from Ludhiana, confirmed that the debt had spiraled to Rs 15–20 crore, and Parveen had grown increasingly reclusive.
Police recovered two handwritten notes from the car — one placed on the dashboard, the other hidden in books — both believed to be written by Parveen. While they have not yet been officially declared suicide notes pending forensic tests, initial reviews suggest they detail financial pressure and name no one else as responsible. The notes also reflect estrangement from in-laws, requesting that Parveen’s father-in-law not conduct the last rites.
The vehicle was reportedly financed with help from a Dehradun resident, Gambhir Singh Negi, who knew Parveen from their time working for an NGO.
Inside the car, investigators also found Risnia syrup packaging — an antipsychotic medication — along with bottles of Lahori Jeera, water, and sodium nitrate, a potentially lethal compound. Police suspect poisoning but await autopsy and toxicology reports to confirm the exact cause of death.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, prompting an intensive investigation led by DCP (Crime) Amit Dahiya and DCP Himadri Kaushik. Multiple teams have been dispatched to Dehradun and Pinjore, and a 360-degree probe is underway to uncover all angles — including mental health, financial transactions, and possible external influences.
As Panchkula mourns this devastating loss, the case serves as a grim reminder of the invisible toll of financial strain and the urgent need for mental health support and intervention systems for families in crisis.