A case that shook East Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area took a dramatic turn this week after a Delhi Police constable, accused of fatally shooting his schoolteacher wife on her birthday, was himself found dead barely 24 hours later in what investigators believe was suicide.
What Happened
A Delhi Police constable allegedly shot his wife dead in the middle of a road in East Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area after a heated argument during a scooter ride early on Monday, police said.
Marriage
The accused, identified as Manish Bhati, reportedly fled the scene immediately after opening fire on his wife, leaving her critically injured by the roadside.
According to police accounts, 26-year-old Priyanka, a teacher at a private school in Ashok Vihar, was riding on a scooter with her husband, constable Manish Bhati, when the two got into a heated argument. Bhati, a 2022-batch constable attached to the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), allegedly stopped the vehicle near Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital, and the confrontation continued after both got off.
Witnesses told police that Bhati then pulled out his service pistol and shot Priyanka before fleeing the scene on foot, leaving her critically injured on the road. A passing delivery executive spotted her lying injured and rushed her to LBS Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, according to police.
The couple had been married since 2023.
Dowry Harassment Allegations
Priyanka’s family has alleged that she faced dowry harassment throughout her marriage and had previously filed a complaint with the women’s cell against her husband and his family. Police say this angle is being formally investigated alongside the murder case.
Manhunt and Sudden End
Following the shooting, Delhi Police registered a murder case and formed multiple teams — reportedly five in total — to trace Bhati, who remained absconding for over a day. Investigators examined CCTV footage from the area, which reportedly captured him leaving the scene, along with forensic evidence collected from the spot.
The search ended on Tuesday evening when Bhati’s body was discovered in a park near Mayur Vihar Phase-1 in East Delhi, close to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, allegedly self-inflicted with the same service weapon used in the earlier shooting. Police have sent both bodies for post-mortem examination and say the case remains under investigation.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Victim: Priyanka, 26, private school teacher, Ashok Vihar
- Accused: Manish Bhati, Delhi Police constable, Anti-Auto Theft Squad
- Location: Kalyanpuri, East Delhi (shooting); Mayur Vihar Phase-1 (constable found dead)
- Date: Incident occurred on Priyanka’s birthday, mid-July 2026
- Case status: Murder case registered; investigation into dowry harassment allegations ongoing; constable’s death being probed as suspected suicide
What’s Next
With the primary accused now dead, investigators are expected to focus on establishing the sequence of events through CCTV and forensic evidence, and on examining the dowry harassment complaint the victim’s family says she had filed earlier. No further arrests have been reported at this time.
This report is based on statements from Delhi Police and multiple news agencies. Details may be updated as the investigation progresses.
- Deccan Chronicle – https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/delhi-constable-shoots-wife-dead-on-birthday-dowry-harassment-alleged-1970547
- The Tribune – https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/delhi/5-teams-search-for-delhi-constable-who-shot-wife-dead-police-say-dowry-claim-being-probed/
- Republic World (constable found dead) – https://www.republicworld.com/india/delhi-police-constable-found-dead-mayur-vihar-after-allegedly-killing-wife-on-her-birthday-in-kalyanpuri-2026-07-14-132315I
- ndia TV News (constable found dead, suicide angle) – https://www.indiatvnews.com/delhi/delhi-police-constable-accused-of-killing-wife-found-dead-police-suspect-suicide-2026-07-14-1048247
- Indiablooms – https://www.indiablooms.com/news/delhi-cop-shoots-wife-dead-on-her-birthday-after-mid-ride-argument-flees-scene/details
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