Tangra deaths: Did Russia-Ukraine conflict push Kolkata's affluent Dey family to financial ruin
Times of India | 21 February 2025
Investigators are looking into the deaths of two women and a child at the Dey residence in Kolkata. The women were found with lacerations and the child died from poisoning.
KOLKATA: At least two of the three people found dead at the Dey residence in Kolkata's Tangra area on Wednesday were murdered in their sleep, a preliminary postmortem indicated on Thursday.
However, investigators haven't dismissed the possibility that Sudeshna Dey and Romi Dey — wives of Pranay and Prasun, brothers who survived a car accident — had formed a suicide pact.
The brothers told the police that their wives had consciously participated in the scheme.
On Wednesday, authorities filed a murder case against unidentified persons, following Romi's father's complaint.
The postmortem examination of Romi revealed lacerations on both wrists and a singular cut on her throat, determining these injuries as the cause of death.
Sudeshna's death resulted from comparable injuries. "Lacerations on both wrists impacted major veins," reads the postmortem report, noting a "single superficial wound" on the throat.
The third casualty — 14-year-old Priyamvada, daughter of Prasun and Romi — succumbed to poisoning, according to the report.
Her body exhibited trauma marks, suggesting she endured suffering before death. No traces of poison were found in the two women.
The left-to-right knife incisions suggest the perpetrator(s) was/were right-handed. Examiners determined the deaths occurred 36 to 48 hours before the autopsy commenced at 2pm on Thursday.
This indicates the incidents occurred between 2pm on Tuesday and 2am on Wednesday.
Pranay and Prasun told investigators that their wives were cognisant participants throughout.
This aligns with an autopsy observation: the wounds on the women were precise, indicating injuries without resistance, likely inflicted during sleep or unconsciousness. The brothers stated the family consumed sleeping pills mixed in payesh on the evening of February 17.
"We remain uncertain about the events of February 18 and who initiated the second and final attempt. Pratip's statement is necessary," police stated.
The investigation revealed the Dey family's leather gloves enterprise faced severe financial difficulties.
"The four-storey Dey residence in Tangra's Clock Tower area was mortgaged," said Rupesh Kumar, joint CP (crime & railways).
Authorities indicated the brothers had secured loans from six private banks and financial institutions, totalling several crores.
Sources revealed their Russian business suffered significantly due to the Russia-Ukraine war, resulting in five of eight contracts being terminated. Their three new ventures also failed.
Investigators are examining their hour-long factory visit on Seal Lane Tuesday morning.
Prasun stated they departed home around 1am (12.54am per CCTV footage) on Wednesday. He claimed they intended to transport Pratip to hospital, but he declined.
"Prasun reports they drove through Bypass, VIP Road, Belgharia Expressway, Kona Expressway, Vidyasagar Setu, AJC Bose Road, the 7-Point Flyover, Science City, before returning to Bypass and colliding with a metro pillar," Kumar explained.
Thursday's interrogations included the factory accountant, a relative serving as manager, a bank official and a CA who previously represented the Deys.
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