In Varanasi’s Lohata area, 30-year-old Rahul Mishra tragically died by suicide on Tuesday morning by hanging himself in his rented room, leaving behind a poignant seven-minute video message recorded while riding his bike the night before.
In the video, Rahul accused his wife Sandhya Singh of infidelity with Shubham Singh alias Danger, lamented being denied access to their 18-month-old son, and blamed his mother-in-law Mandvi for instigating family discord and harassment that left him feeling utterly broken despite his deep love for his family.
Rahul, who had a love marriage with Sandhya five years ago from Lakhanpur village, highlighted unbearable emotional pain from separation, failed reconciliation attempts, and multiple false cases filed against him under laws like IPC Section 498A.
Following a complaint from Rahul’s mother, police registered an FIR for abetment to suicide against Sandhya, Mandvi, and Shubham; Sandhya and Mandvi were arrested shortly after, while Shubham remains absconding, with investigations continuing amid calls for mental health awareness.
Heartbreak Captured in Desperate Plea
Rahul Mishra’s final video, which has since gone viral, paints a harrowing picture of a man pushed to the brink by betrayal and isolation, his voice trembling as he navigates Varanasi’s streets on his bike under the cover of night.
Speaking directly to the camera in Hindi, he repeatedly professed his unwavering love for Sandhya “Main wife se bahut pyar karta tha” and his young son, whom he desperately wanted to see but was repeatedly denied, even resorting to hiding near a school in futile hopes of a glimpse.
He recounted prior confrontations at his in-laws’ home where divorce was allegedly thrust upon him, and detailed how Sandhya continued communicating with Shubham despite his pleas, accusing her of emotional manipulation and involvement with another man who would take her to hotels.
Family members revealed Rahul had been increasingly withdrawn in the days leading up, sharing his burdens only sparingly with close relatives, while neighbours recalled hearing heated arguments echoing from his room.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Neetu Kadyan confirmed to media outlets that the postmortem examination was completed swiftly, and the FIR was lodged based on concrete family statements, emphasising a thorough probe into the allegations of sustained harassment that culminated in this irreversible act.
Roots of a Shattered Union
The couple’s story, rooted in a love marriage arranged five years prior in Lakhanpur, began with promise but unravelled amid mounting suspicions and legal battles that exposed deep fissures in their relationship.
Rahul alleged in his video that Sandhya had filed several matrimonial cases against him, including under the much-debated IPC Section 498A, which he criticised as overly favourable to women and in need of reform to prevent misuse, a sentiment he voiced with raw frustration: “Yeh kanoon sudharna chahiye.”
Sources indicate tensions escalated when Rahul confronted Sandhya about her alleged extra-marital ties with Shubham, leading to her moving back to her parental home with their son and restricting his paternal rights, a separation that gnawed at him relentlessly.
Rahul’s mother lodged the complaint detailing months of alleged torment, including instigation by Mandvi to poison the marital bond, while police investigations have uncovered patterns of discord, such as prior police visits to mediate family disputes.
This backdrop not only humanises Rahul’s despair but also spotlights broader societal issues in India, where traditional expectations clash with modern relationship dynamics, often leaving men feeling voiceless in domestic strife.
Neighbours described Rahul as a quiet, hardworking individual employed locally, whose sudden withdrawal signalled unspoken suffering, underscoring how unresolved conflicts fester without intervention.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This gut-wrenching tragedy lays bare the devastating consequences of unchecked mistrust, relentless harassment, and the glaring gaps in mental health support within fractured families, where one person’s pain spirals into unimaginable loss without avenues for compassionate resolution.
While personal relationships carry unique complexities, The Logical Indian firmly believes in prioritising empathy, open dialogue, and kindness as antidotes to isolation, urging legal systems to evolve for fairness balancing protections without enabling abuse and communities to embrace accessible counselling free from stigma. By fostering harmony through proactive support networks, education on emotional resilience, and destigmatising help-seeking for all genders, society can prevent such heartbreaks and nurture coexistence rooted in understanding.
