A tragic incident has unfolded in Noida's Nagla Shri Padam village, where five members of a family were discovered dead inside their home on Saturday morning. The deceased include 37-year-old Mahesh, his 35-year-old wife Lalita, and their three children: 11-year-old Laddu, seven-year-old Mishti, and three-year-old Sakshat. The discovery was made after a neighborhood child, who had arrived to call the couple's children for school, found the home unresponsive after climbing the boundary wall.
Upon reaching the interior of the house, the child observed that the family members were unresponsive. According to reports from the scene, Mahesh and one child were located on a cot, while Lalita and the remaining two children were on a bed, with one child found clinging to the mother. Although initial speculation pointed toward food poisoning due to the victims being found frothing at the mouth, a preliminary inspection by food safety officials did not provide a conclusive link to ingested toxins.
As authorities work to determine the cause of death, members of the extended family have levelled serious allegations of foul play. Pooja, identified as Lalita's sister, explicitly stated her belief that the deaths were not the result of food poisoning. She alleged that the incident was a deliberate act orchestrated over a long-standing property dispute involving the family, pointing fingers at the husband’s mother and other relatives. These allegations, however, have not been established by official investigations.
The family background reveals a history of tension regarding the distribution of assets. Relatives claim that the family had previously received approximately Rs 1.25 crore in compensation from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority in 2009, along with a plot of land. Claims have been made that these assets were directed toward Mahesh’s mother, Chandravati, and her three daughters, leaving the sons without a share. Furthermore, relatives noted that Mahesh’s brother, Rahul, had died by suicide in 2019, an event they suggest was also linked to distress over family property.
Specific allegations regarding recent financial actions have also surfaced. Family members claimed that Chandravati had transferred the family’s ancestral house in Delhi to her daughters and sold a 167-square-metre property in Nagla Padam in August 2025. Additionally, it is alleged that roughly six months ago, she transferred approximately 10 bighas of land and the house where Mahesh’s family resided to one of her daughters and her son-in-law. Neeraj, the widow of the late Rahul, alleged that she had been forced to leave the family home following her husband's death and described Mahesh as having been supportive of her right to a share of the family assets.
Despite the claims of long-term friction, some family members expressed shock at the sudden loss, noting that the household appeared to be functioning normally in the days leading up to the tragedy. Sonu, Lalita’s brother, stated that the family had visited his home approximately 10 days prior and did not display any visible signs of distress. He added that a phone conversation held just two days before the discovery of the bodies also gave no indication of the impending disaster.
At this stage, the investigation remains in its early phases. There were no visible injuries reported on any of the victims, and the exact cause of death is yet to be medically established. While neighbors have corroborated that frequent arguments occurred within the household concerning property matters, investigators have cautioned that the relatives' accusations of murder and intentional wrongdoing remain unproven at this time. The authorities continue to examine the site and gather information as they seek to resolve the circumstances surrounding this incident.
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