A CCTV footage showing a heated argument between Delhi cafe owner Puneet Khurana who died by suicide and his estranged wife Manika Pahwa has surfaced online. The video shows Pahwa accusing the 40-year-old businessman of ruining her life as she hurls abuses at him and threatens him of creating a scene in his locality. "I will go to your locality and create a scene. Then keep crying on the phone," she is heard saying to Khurana.
Puneet Khurana ended his own life on New Year's eve, following which his family has been demanding justice for their son who took the drastic step after allegedly suffering due to harassment from his wife and in-laws. He was found hanging in his room on December 31. Police have seized his phone, which his family says contains of a 59-minute video of him explaining the reasons behind what led him to take his own life, as part of the probe.
The video dates back to 2023 and has gone viral on social media platforms. As per the time appearing on the CCTV footage, the incident took place on August 4, around 3:15 PM.
It contains strong language and begins with Khurana and Pahwa seated across each other in a room. Pahwa can be heard saying, "I’m giving you 10 minutes, sitting here quietly. Tell me what you want to do. Give me a straight answer".
When Khurana starts speaking after this, Pahwa interrupts him saying that she has not asked him to speak now, but after ten minutes. To this, Khurana replies, "It's my choice when I want to speak. I will speak when and if I want to. If I don't want to speak I won't..."
Pahwa then says something to which he relies, 'It is my life. I can do what I want. What is your problem with this?" At this point, the argument intensifies and Pahwa responds with harsh words, and in-turn claims that her own life has been ruined. "...The problem is my life has also been ruined because of you...This is my problem," she says.
Pahwa then threatens him of revealing everything about what has been happening between the couple to his family members and relatives. "I have everybody's numbers and addresses from your family. I will bring everyone and also tell everyone in your locality about all this..." To this, Khurana can be heard saying, "Okay, any day."
His wife then says, "The overconfidence with which you are sitting...You will see one day...Then you will cry over phone."
In another video that went viral on the internet, Puneet Khurana can be seen talking to his father-in-law who is offering him Rs 2crore in exchange for a house which was said to be on Pahwa's name. However, he reneged on his statement.
In another recorded conversation, the couple can be heard fighting over issues related to a bakery 'For God's cake', which they co-owned. They also started the Woodbox cafe together. Khurana and Pahwa got married in 2016 but their relationship soured after a year-and-a-half of being married. They had moved court for divorce.