Pune: 35 tola gold seized in Payal Zambare death case; husband, in-laws' custody extended by two days

The police investigation into the suicide of Payal Zambare in Pune has moved forward. In the case, registered on charges of abetting the married woman's suicide through physical and mental harassment over dowry, police have seized 35 tola of gold and silver jewellery from the Zambare family's home. Police have also taken possession of the mobile phones of husband Akshay and father-in-law Arvind, the mobile phone of the deceased Payal, and CCTV footage.

The police custody of husband Akshay Arvind Zambare (35), father-in-law Arvind Vasantrao Zambare (68) and mother-in-law Mangal Arvind Zambare (58) was about to expire. All three live at Mangalmay in Mukundnagar. They were produced in court on Saturday. Advocate Bhagyashree Dagale-Sancheti argued for the prosecution. Advocates Pushkar Patil and Rituraj Patil appeared for the original complainant. The court extended the police custody of the three by two days.

Akshata Zambare, alias Niman, is also an accused in the case, and police are searching for her. Police have not yet found the remaining 15 tola of gold in the case.

According to the case, Payal Akshay Zambare's body was found on Monday, 2 November, in a flat in Akshay Heights society in Mukundnagar, Pune. Early information suggested she may have died by suicide by hanging. Swargate police reached the spot on receiving the news. Police took the body into custody and sent it to Sassoon Hospital for a post-mortem.

After learning of Payal's death, her parental family made serious allegations against her in-laws. Relatives suspected that it was not suicide but a murder carried out as part of a conspiracy.

According to the complaint by her parental family, the in-laws constantly harassed Payal mentally and physically after the marriage. It is alleged that husband Akshay Zambare, the mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law demanded gold along with money. Relatives allege that every year around Diwali she was asked to bring five to ten tola of gold from her parental home. Such a demand was made this year too.

The complaint claims that her parental family cited their financial condition and said they could not meet the demand. Payal's family are farmers, and because of drought conditions they had asked for time until the next season. The harassment allegedly continued regardless. The family alleges that Payal was being put under mental pressure through these demands. The truth of all these allegations will emerge from the police investigation.