Metro53 - LONDON: An Indian-origin family of three died after falling from the 36th floor of a luxury residential tower in south London, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, including the possibility of a murder-suicide.
According to international media reports, 47-year-old Rakesh Pai, his 46-year-old wife Aditi Parlkar, and their nine-year-old son, Sid, lost their lives on May 27 after falling from a 46-storey residential building.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the incident and attempted to save the victims, but all three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Local Member of Parliament Neil Coyle said investigators believe the child’s prolonged and serious illness may have been a contributing factor in the tragedy. He noted that Sid, who was born in the United Kingdom, had been suffering from significant medical complications.
Reports indicate that the family travelled to India in 2020 in search of treatment for their son. However, after failing to achieve the desired improvement in his condition, they returned to the United Kingdom in 2025.
Friends of the family have questioned suggestions of a murder-suicide. One close acquaintance said Aditi had been under considerable emotional strain but described Rakesh as calm and focused on managing the family’s challenges.
Another individual familiar with the family said the demands of caring for a seriously ill child had taken a significant toll on the mother's mental wellbeing over an extended period.
Meanwhile, a neighbour reportedly told police that shouting and arguments had been heard from the family’s apartment in the weeks leading up to the incident.
The Metropolitan Police Service said the deaths are currently being treated as “unexpected” and “unexplained,” adding that a full investigation is underway. Authorities have not reached any conclusions regarding the cause of the incident, and officials said findings will depend on the outcome of ongoing inquiries and forensic examinations.
Police have urged the public to avoid speculation while investigators continue to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.
