New Delhi: Almost a week before Delhi cafe owner Puneet Khurana died by suicide, his estranged wife Manika Pahwa shared a cryptic post on her Instagram handle. Notably, Pahwa was also Khurana’s business partner. In the cryptic post, Pahwa stated that she had been subjected to “toxicity and narcissistic abuse” and was now free.
Pahwa and Khurana were co-owners of the popular Woodbox Cafe in Delhi. They were going through a divorce. The 40-year-old businessman died by suicide on New Year’s Eve. He was found hanging in his room in Model Town’s Kalyan Vihar area.
Khurana spoke to his estranged wife on Monday night, hours before taking the extreme step. The businessman recorded the conversation. In the recording, the couple could be heard arguing over business issues.
In her Instagram post, which was shared six days before Khurana’s death, his estranged wife said that she was healing well “after all the toxicity and narcissistic abuse”, reported NDTV. She also said that she was trying to “be better and to be indifferent” every day.
However, she did not name anybody in her post, Pahwa said that higher powers would decide what was best for her “abusers”.
“Well feminism suits me, as idealistic values are my core & feminism means giving & getting mere respect. To one another. No slave treatment, and no stopping some girl to speak her mind (sic). Even a house help, guard, rikshawala, a tiny kid deserves respectful treatment. Once a coward fought with me that ‘respect has to be earned’. Ufff! What disgrace na? I disagree, respect has to be given to each and everyone. If not then you lost the respect baby. Phew! Maybe that’s why in India, we address people with ‘aap’, ‘bhaiya’, ‘didi’ to even strangers, isn’t it?” she wrote as reported by the media house.
“I just wish these abusers get to see the mirror someday and understand..that kindness, love, understanding, trust,wisdom, affection & care all are true virtues & hold much more importance than money,property & gold. God bless the unkind ones. 🙂 I know nobody can change, but let’s just pray, nobody else should suffer because of some bunch of insecure cowards. My tribe, pray with me..okay? 🙂 love you all… I am free, and the beautiful ruins are part of me,” Pahwa added.
After Khurana’s death, his family blamed his estranged wife for pushing him to take the extreme step. “The father of the deceased, Puneet Khurana, said that his son was going through marital discord and alleged that his daughter-in-law harassed him, which led to his suicide,” Bhisham Singh, DCP North West Delhi, told ANI.
“We have seized the deceased man’s mobile phone, and the family’s claims are being verified. An inquiry is underway with both families participating in the investigation. Manika’s family has made counter-allegations, and a divorce case is also ongoing,” he added.
According to the sister of the deceased, Puneet’s wife, along with her sister and parents, was mentally torturing and harassing him, and Puneet had also recorded a video in which he mentioned the details of the harassment he had faced.
