Surat: More details have surfaced in the sensational suicide case of builder Tushar Ghelani, with investigators finding that family members of his friend and arrested accused Poonam Bhadauria were also drawing salaries from the school established by him.The school, named ‘Blue Papillon’, was managed by Bhadauria, who oversaw its administration and operations. She was arrested by Surat police after a complaint of abetment to suicide was registered against her.
According to police findings, Bhadauria received a salary of Rs 92.34 lakh from 2018 to 2025. In addition, she earned a profit share of Rs 57.84 lakh and interest amounting to Rs 38.16 lakh, taking her total financial receipts from the school during this period to approximately Rs 1.88 crore.Investigators also found that her family members were on the payroll of the institution. Her sister, Priya, received Rs 14.95 lakh as salary, while her mother, Urmila, and father, Brijmohan, were each paid Rs 10.40 lakh. The total income earned by Bhadauria’s family members from the school amounted to Rs 35.75 lakh.Police sources said Priya is considered a key witness in the case, as Ghelani had reportedly contacted her in an attempt to persuade Bhadauria during a dispute. However, officers stated that she has not yet appeared at the police station to record her statement despite being called.Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Z R Desai, who is leading the investigation, said, “It has come to light that Ghelani had lent Rs 11 lakh to a farmer in Dumas. However, instead of issuing a cheque in Ghelani’s name, the cheque was issued in the name of Bhadauria’s father, Brijmohan, on Ghelani’s instructions. Bhadauria has not been cooperating and has failed to clarify this transaction.”Ghelani died by suicide on Feb 1 after allegedly shooting himself in the head with his licensed revolver, days before the mariage of his daughter.
