The deceased were identified as Mahesh (37), his wife Lalita (35), and their children Laddu (11), Mishti (7) and Sakshat (3).
NOIDA: A property dispute within the family has emerged as a key allegation in the deaths of a couple and their three minor children, who were found dead at their home in Nagla Shri Padam village on Saturday morning. Relatives have accused the deceased man's mother, Chandravati, of transferring family land and houses to her three daughters, allegedly leaving Mahesh and his family distressed about their future. The allegations have not been established, and the cause of death remains uncertain. “This is not food poisoning; it is murder. My sister's sister-in-law and her husband orchestrated the deaths over a property dispute,” alleged Pooja, Lalita's sister. The deceased were identified as Mahesh (37), his wife Lalita (35), and their children Laddu (11), Mishti (7) and Sakshat (3). There were no visible injuries on any of the victims, but all were found frothing at the mouth. Food poisoning was initially suspected, though a preliminary inspection by food safety officials did not conclusively point to it.
Child climbs boundary wall, discovers family unresponsive
The deaths came to light on Saturday morning when a child from the neighbourhood went to call Mahesh's two school-going children for an examination. When nobody responded, the child climbed the boundary wall and found the family unresponsive inside the house. Mahesh and one of the children were found on a cot, while Lalita and the other two children were on a bed. One of the children was found clinging to the mother's lap, according to the account of the scene.
Relatives allege mother transferred property to daughters
Relatives alleged that disputes over the family's property had been frequent and that Chandravati had repeatedly asked Mahesh and his family to vacate the house. They accused her and one of her daughters of being involved in the deaths, but the allegations remain unproven. Satendra Jatav alleged that Chandravati had threatened to make Mahesh's family leave and said the property would go to her daughters. Neighbours also claimed that arguments over property were common in the family. Mahesh's brother Rahul died by suicide in 2019. Relatives alleged that he, too, had been distressed over the distribution of family property.
Family received Rs 1.25 crore compensation in 2009
According to Lalita's brother Sonu, Chandravati had inherited property from her husband and her maternal family in Rabupura. In the early 2000s, Mahesh's father, Kishan Lal, who originally belonged to Khera Kalan village in Delhi's Narela, bought around 10 bighas of land in Nagla Padam, which relatives described as Chandravati's maternal village. In 2009, the family received around Rs 1.25 crore in compensation from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), along with a plot under its 7% developed-plot scheme. Relatives alleged that the compensation and plot benefits went to Chandravati's three daughters, leaving her two sons without a share. Sonu said the funds were used to build a house in Rabupura after Mahesh married in 2017. Mahesh lived there with Lalita, while Chandravati moved in about a year before the deaths.
Relatives cite property transfers after father's death
Relatives alleged that after Kishan Lal died in 2023, Chandravati transferred the family's ancestral house in Delhi to two of her daughters. They also claimed that she sold a 167-sq-metre house in Nagla Padam on August 18, 2025. According to the relatives, around six months ago, Chandravati transferred about 10 bighas of land to one of her daughters and her husband, along with the house where Mahesh's family lived. The details of the alleged transfers and the relatives' claims about the distribution of property have not been independently established.
'He said he would ensure I got my share'
Neeraj, Rahul's wife, said she was forced to leave the family home after her husband's death and was not allowed to continue living there with her 14-year-old daughter. The two now live in a rented house, she said. “Mahesh used to say, ‘My brother is gone, but I won't deprive you of your share. I will ensure you get what is rightfully yours.’ My mother-in-law always takes her daughters' side,” Neeraj said, describing Mahesh and Lalita as good people.
Relatives say family showed no signs of distress
Sonu said Mahesh's family had visited his home around 10 days before the deaths and appeared normal. He added that he had spoken to the family over the phone two days earlier, but they had not mentioned any problems or distress. The cause of the five deaths remains unclear. The relatives' allegations over the property dispute are yet to be established.
