Kolkata house of horror: Dey family tale more twisted than you think
Times of India | 28 February 2025
NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old Pratip Dey, who survived a fatal car crash on Kolkata’s EM Bypass on February 19, has alleged that his mother, Sudeshna, and aunt, Romi, were murdered after backing out of a planned family suicide.
His father, Pranay Dey, and uncle, Prasun Dey—who also survived the crash—went through with their plan and ended their lives by slashing their wrists.
Pratip shared his horrifying account with West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) adviser Ananya Chakraborti, revealing that the two brothers initially attempted suicide by consuming payesh laced with sedatives on February 17.
When that failed, they planned to jump from the roof of their four-storey home. However, Sudeshna and Romi refused, and according to Pratip, they were killed as a result.
The teenager also alleged that his uncle, following his father’s orders, attempted to smother him with a pillow. He survived by holding his breath—using "yoga techniques"—and playing dead.
His uncle eventually removed the pillow to check for signs of life, and when he found none, he assumed Pratip was dead and left the room.
After escaping death, Pratip discovered his cousin Priyamvada’s body. She was frothing at the mouth, the only suspected victim of the sedative-laced payesh. Elsewhere in the house, he found his mother and aunt lifeless.
The teenager later witnessed his father and uncle preparing to die and was convinced to join them. "When we asked him why, he said all his loved ones were gone, so what was the point of living?" Chakraborti recounted.
Meanwhile, police at Lalbazar have received postmortem reports, which contradict Prasun’s claims that Sudeshna and Romi died by suicide.
The reports indicate that the cuts on their wrists were not self-inflicted. "Someone else slashed their wrists," a senior officer said. Investigators are now analyzing inconsistencies in the survivors' statements to piece together the chilling sequence of events.
Conflicting statements
The Dey brothers from Tangra provided consistent accounts regarding key aspects of their suicide pact—from its inception on February 10 to their final plan of staging a fatal accident in the early hours of February 19.
However, their statements diverged when detailing the events of the morning of February 18, when the three women in the house were discovered dead, with post-mortem findings pointing to murder.
‘No relative willing to take responsibility of teen survivor'
For 14-year-old Pratip Dey, life took a devastating turn overnight. Until February 17, he was focused on preparing for his final exams.
Now, over a week after losing his mother and two other family members, he remains at NRS Hospital, his future hanging in uncertainty. Adding to his trauma, a family member had even attempted to slash his wrist during the horrifying ordeal.
For the police, the case presents a complex challenge. Legal hurdles and practical constraints have left them uncertain about where Pratip will go once discharged. No relatives have reportedly visited him at the hospital.
Authorities had initially considered rehabilitating him with an uncle, but progress has been slow. According to Lalbazar officials, no formal steps have yet been taken to place him in a shelter home.
“Once his father, Pranay, and uncle, Prasun, recover, we will assess his condition. The moment they are arrested, we must find a suitable option for the minor,” an officer said.
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