Teenager and parents die after family dispute over iPhone instalments in India

An 18-year-old and his parents died following a confrontation at a hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India, after a family dispute reportedly linked to instalment payments for the teenager’s iPhone.

According to NDTV, police said the teenager, identified as Kunal, had bought an iPhone but subsequently asked his family for money to cover the instalments.

A dispute reportedly broke out between Kunal and his father, Murlidhar Chandgude, over the latest payment.

Kunal then left home and went to a hill in the Tisgaon area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Waluj MIDC police station.

Locals spend hours trying to intervene

Kunal’s parents followed him to the location, where they were joined by local residents who attempted to persuade him to return home.

The standoff reportedly lasted close to three hours, with several people appealing to the teenager to reconsider his actions and return to safety.

Sanjay Jadhav, a former village head of Tisgaon, was among those who tried to speak with Kunal.

He told NDTV that residents repeatedly appealed to the teenager, reminding him that he had a future ahead of him.

Some people also reportedly offered to help him obtain an iPhone 15 Pro in an attempt to persuade him to leave the location.

Father and son fall during intervention

At about 1pm, Kunal’s father approached him and attempted to bring him away from the edge, according to police.

During the intervention, Kunal and his father lost their balance and fell from the hill. After witnessing them fall, Kunal’s mother, Sangeeta, also jumped from the hill.

All three family members died at the scene, police said.

Their bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations. Authorities have registered a case and said further legal proceedings are underway.

Investigation continues

The incident was witnessed by local residents and tourists who had gathered at the site during the prolonged confrontation.

Parts of the incident and attempts to persuade Kunal to return were also recorded on video and later circulated online.

NDTV reported that police have not established whether the teenager had been experiencing depression, despite earlier reports suggesting this possibility.

Authorities have also not released further details about the circumstances of the family dispute beyond the reported disagreement over the phone instalments.

The investigation remains ongoing as police work to establish the full circumstances leading to the deaths.