Talvar

Shruti Tandon was found dead at her home in Sameer Vihar, Noida during the night of 15–16 March 2008. Her parents, Ramesh and Nutan, reported the death and police began the initial investigation. The case centers on what happened to Shruti and who was responsible.

The decomposed body of missing servant Khempal is discovered on the terrace of the Tandons' building. This finding broadens the inquiry beyond Shruti's death and brings new angles into the investigation. Police begin to consider connections between Shruti and those around her.

Kanhaiya, Khempal's close friend and the Tandons' assistant, is questioned by police. He suggests that Khempal might have been involved with Shruti, amplifying suspicions about people close to Shruti rather than the couple alone. Investigators widen their focus on relationships surrounding Shruti.

Investigators declare Shruti's murders a clear case of honour killing and identify the Tandons among those suspected. The narrative shifts toward gendered violence as a motive in the eyes of the police. Public perception begins to hinge on the family's involvement.

On 25 March 2008, Ramesh is arrested for Shruti's murder. A police press conference attributes the killings to honour killing, provoking public outrage over victim blaming. The case garners significant attention and scrutiny.

Joint Director Ashwin Kumar of the Central Department of Investigation takes over the case. He criticizes the sloppy initial crime-scene work and moves to build a methodical case, including narco tests to examine the accused and their alleged accomplices. The investigation shifts toward a centralized, forensic approach.

On 22 June 2008, Kumar exonerates the Tandons and orders Ramesh's release from jail. This reversal prompts renewed debate about the investigation's direction and leads to ongoing efforts to reexamine the evidence. Public and official opinions begin to diverge on the case's trajectory.

A senior officer retires and a new CDI chief takes over. ACP Vedant seeks promotion and comes into conflict with Kumar, resulting in Kumar's suspension. Internal power struggles begin to influence how the case is pursued.

A new investigative team led by Kumar's former superior, Paul, reexamines the evidence and concludes that the parents committed the murders. This restarts the push to hold the Tandons responsible, overturning earlier exoneration arguments. The case regains traction within the CDI.

The CDI files a closure report in Ghaziabad court naming the parents as prime suspects, but the evidence is deemed insufficient to prosecute. The Tandons file a protest plea challenging the CDI's conclusions. The legal process stalls as the court weighs the next steps.

The judge rejects the CDI closure report and explicitly accuses the parents in the case, maintaining there is enough basis for a trial. This decision keeps Shruti's murder within the judicial system and sets the stage for a formal prosecution.

The trial opens on 8 June 2012, bringing the case into a courtroom setting for formal adjudication. Both sides present arguments, while the long investigative timeline is scrutinized before the court. The process marks a turning point toward a definitive judgment.

Several months after the trial began, the Tandons are convicted of Shruti's murders. The verdict concludes a prolonged and controversial investigation that spanned multiple years. The case ends with a formal criminal conviction.