iPhone dispute ends in tragedy as Maharashtra boy jumps from cliff, parents die trying to save him

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A boy jumped off a hill in Deonai village in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Friday (August 21, 2026), following a minor dispute over a mobile phone. His parents also jumped after him and died while attempting to save their son.

A case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which outlines the procedure for police officers to inquire into and report on unnatural or suspicious deaths.

According to District Collector Vinay Gowda, the incident happened over a dispute regarding purchasing a new iPhone.

“Kunal Murlidhar Chandvade, 18, asked his father for a new iPhone; however, his father, Murlidhar Chandvade, 48, did not agree to it. The boy was not happy and went to the cliff of Khavdya Hill, Tisgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, at 10 a.m. and threatened to try to convince his parents. The village sarpanch and other villagers tried to pacify the boy, but he would not listen. The father tried to reason with his son and eventually climbed up the hill to bring his son away from the edge of the cliff,” Mr. Gowda said.

The boy fell from the cliff, and holding on to his father's hand, pulled him down with him, he added.

After seeing them fall, his mother, Sangeeta Murlidhar Chandvade, 42, tried to rescue her son and husband but slipped and fell in the process, the Collector added.

Assistant Police Inspector Naresh Thakare confirmed that they completed the postmortem of the bodies and have returned them to their relatives.

Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050

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