Priyanka, a woman from Lucknow, India, died under suspicious circumstances inside a hotel room bathtub in Pattaya, Thailand, on January 7, 2025. Her husband, Dr. Ashish Srivastava, claimed she accidentally drowned due to heavy alcohol consumption after he stepped out of the room to feed their three-year-old son. However, Priyanka's father, Satyanarayan Sharma, and her extended family alleged that Ashish murdered her, asserting that she feared water, did not drink heavily, and had previously suffered physical abuse and marital discord involving alleged extramarital issues. Following an initial investigation and autopsy by Thai authorities, Ashish returned to India with their child, where an FIR alleging murder was registered against him and a second post-mortem was requested by the victim's family.
Country: None
State/Province: None
City/Region: Pattaya
Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide
Relationship Status: Married
Relationship Duration: Approximately 7 years (marriage)
Incident Date: Jan. 7, 2025
Relationship Origins:
Relationship Stages:
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Red Flags:
Motives:
Relationship Outcomes:
How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 7 years (marriage)
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2025-01-07
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
Crime Tak - India
Domestic Conflict
The case exhibits severe, long-standing domestic conflict, prior physical altercations involving in-laws, and past divorce filings that were subsequently withdrawn. The victim's family alleges domestic harassment and intentional homicide masked as an accidental bathtub drowning. The husband counters that the incident was a tragic, alcohol-induced accidental drowning occurring while he briefly left the hotel room.
Thai police conducted an initial investigation, physical autopsy, and detailed forensic examination, granting clearance for repatriation. Upon the husband's return to Lucknow, India, an FIR for murder was lodged by the victim's father, leading local authorities to initiate further inquiries and order a second post-mortem examination. Investigative focus remains on cross-referencing hotel CCTV footage, chemical toxicological reports, and physical injury records.
Significant discrepancy exists between the husband's statements and the victim's family allegations. The victim's father claims Priyanka feared water, did not consume alcohol, and was subject to fatal physical assault or slow poisoning. Conversely, the husband asserts Priyanka voluntarily drank heavily, enjoyed water sports, and accidentally slipped under water in the bathtub while intoxicated.
According to the husband, the couple arrived in Pattaya on January 5, 2025. On January 7, after drinking alcohol, Priyanka entered the bathtub while Ashish went downstairs to buy food for their son. Upon returning, he found her submerged in the tub, drained the water, performed basic stimulation/CPR, and enlisted hotel staff to take her to Pattaya International Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her family rejects this narrative, claiming pre-planned murder following persistent domestic disputes.
The relationship history includes escalated domestic physical altercations, past divorce proceedings, and severe distrust between the husband and the victim's extended family. Conflicting claims regarding domestic physical abuse, extramarital disputes, and high alcohol consumption indicate significant behavioral instability within the marital unit prior to the fatal incident.
Domestic violence cases involving foreign travel complicate jurisdiction, forensic evidence verification, and witness corroboration. Underlying red flags such as past physical fights, police complaints, and withdrawn divorce filings serve as strong historical indicators of marital safety risks.
Prior physical fights in 2022 resulting in police involvement, along with previous divorce filings between the couple, served as major early warnings of severe marital discord.
Hotel CCTV recordings showing the victim's mobility and state of intoxication, hotel room access logs, and initial medical reports from Pattaya International Hospital are key evidence markers.
Primary evidence includes hotel security camera footage, room entry logs, Thai autopsy reports, post-mortem findings from India, and WhatsApp video call logs prior to the incident.
Dr. Ashish Srivastava stated he found his wife floating underwater in the bathtub after returning to the room. The victim's father stated his daughter was terrified of water and never drank alcohol, alleging she was murdered.
Initial Thai authority conclusions found no immediate evidence of foul play and issued repatriation clearances. Follow-up action in India led to a formal murder FIR, public media interviews, and orders for additional post-mortem evaluations.
It remains unresolved whether the toxicological and second post-mortem results reveal evidence of physical struggle, incapacitating substances, or direct trauma inconsistent with accidental drowning.