A 24-year-old MBA student was found dead and unclothed inside her classmate’s rented room in Indore’s Dwarkapuri locality on Friday, three days after she was reported missing, police said.

The decomposed body bore signs of strangulation, and investigators are searching for her alleged boyfriend and prime suspect, believed to have posted an objectionable video of the woman in a college WhatsApp group before her disappearance.

Discovery and Immediate Police Action

Residents of Uncle Gali in Dwarkapuri alerted police on Friday after a foul smell emanated from a locked room rented by a male MBA student and classmate of the victim. When the Dwarkapuri police team broke down the lock, they found the woman’s naked, decomposing body lying motionless. Early observations suggested strangulation with rope marks around her neck.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishna Lalchandani told reporters that the victim appeared to have died around three days before her body was discovered, roughly coinciding with the day she was first reported missing. Forensic experts and medical teams are examining the scene, and the post-mortem examination is awaited to confirm the exact cause and time of death.

Sequence of Events Before the Tragedy

According to family members and police sources, the student had been missing since 10 February, when she left home after telling her father she was going to get her birth certificate rectified at the Collectorate office. After that, she called her younger sister saying she would attend a birthday party with the classmate, promising to return by 11 pm a promise she never kept.

Later that same night, an objectionable video was posted on the official WhatsApp group of their college from the victim’s phone. In the clip, the woman’s face was clearly visible while the man’s face was obscured with an emoji. The college administration quickly removed the video and informed her father the next day, also noting that both her and the suspect’s phones were switched off.

Family members claim that despite repeated pleas, police response in the initial phase was slow and uncoordinated, with a constable reportedly visiting the suspect’s rented room earlier but leaving without breaking in after finding the door locked. Relatives have expressed frustration at the perceived delay.

Allegations of Extortion and Digital Harassment

The victim’s father has made serious allegations against the prime suspect identified in several reports as Piyush Dhanotia, a fellow MBA student and resident of Mandsaur who was living in Indore for his studies.

He claims that Dhanotia had pressured his daughter for money, threatened to leak her private photographs and videos, and actually used her mobile phone to share explicit content with her contacts and on social platforms when she refused to comply.

Sources indicate that the objectionable video that went viral may have been a turning point in the victim’s distress, prompting her family to become increasingly alarmed. Her younger sister reportedly raised concerns about the video, saying that the situation had worried her sibling greatly.

Police have said they are examining digital evidence, including both mobile phones, WhatsApp messages, and social media history, to better understand the timeline of events and to determine whether the video was forcibly circulated or involved coercion. The full forensic analysis will be critical in framing charges and understanding the dynamics of the relationship.

Investigation Status and Suspect on the Run

Authorities have officially classified the case as a suspicious death with strong indications of homicide, and the missing classmate believed to be the victim’s boyfriend is now the prime suspect. A manhunt has been launched to trace his whereabouts, and police teams are combing multiple locations based on leads from digital footprints and family information.

The police have appealed to the public to come forward with any information related to the suspect’s movements or communications since the night of the student’s disappearance. So far, no arrests have been made, and officials have insisted on restraint until the post-mortem and forensic reports are completed.

Community Shock and Broader Concerns

The disturbing nature of the case involving image dissemination, alleged blackmail, a missing suspect, and a decomposed body found in a locked room has sent shockwaves through Indore’s student community and beyond. Residents of Dwarkapuri expressed outrage at how the incident unfolded and have demanded transparency and accountability from law enforcement.

Students at local colleges have also voiced concern over safety, consent, and digital privacy, highlighting how quickly personal content can become public and how vulnerable young people can be when harassment escalates. Legal and digital rights activists have called for stronger safeguards, education on consent and online behaviour, and better support systems for victims of digital abuse.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the intersections between personal relationships, digital privacy violations, and systemic gaps in prevention and response. The loss of a promising young life is not merely a crime story it reflects deeper societal failures in protecting individuals, educating about respect and ethics, and supporting those in distress.

We must advocate for heightened digital literacy, campus awareness programmes, counselling services, and swift legal actions against harassment and blackmail. Institutions and communities should foster environments where students feel safe to report concerns without fear of stigma or dismissal.