Woman, 34, found dead in locked flat in Pune's Gahunje; family believed she was studying in London

The body of 34-year-old Mugdha Deshmukh was found in a locked flat in the upmarket Lodha Belmondo society in Gahunje, Pune. The case came to light on the night of Wednesday, October 28. Until then, the family believed Mugdha was living in London and pursuing higher studies.

Questions are being raised over the circumstances of her death. Citing immigration records, it is being said that she had returned to India from the UK at the end of August 2026. There was thus a major gap between what the family understood and the actual situation, which has deepened the mystery around the case.

Mugdha was the daughter of Avinash Deshmukh, a retired chief engineer of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation. After her husband's death, she had gone to London in July 2025 to study for an MBA. She lived alone there and also did a part-time job. During this period she was in regular touch with her parents through video calls and messages.

The family grew anxious when Mugdha could not be reached. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police traced her through online food delivery transactions. A police team then reached her flat in the Lodha Belmondo society in Gahunje.

The door of the flat was locked from inside and a foul smell was coming from the house. Police therefore broke the door open and went in. Mugdha's decomposed body was found lying in the bedroom.

According to the information available, Mugdha spoke to her mother on the phone on October 23. She told her mother she was in a hurry for a job interview. This turned out to be her last conversation with the family. The next day in the evening, when her parents tried to call her, her mobile phone was switched off.

The exact cause of Mugdha's death has not yet been established. It is hoped that the police investigation will bring out more information.