Indian-origin couple, nine-year-old son jump to death from London apartment, murder-suicide pact suspected

PTC News Desk: An Indian-origin couple and their nine-year-old son died after falling from the balcony of their 36th-floor apartment in a luxury residential building in London what is being investigated as a suicide pact. 

However, friends of the family have rejected suggestions that the deaths were the result of a suicide pact.

The deceased have been identified as Rakesh Pai (47), his wife Aditi Paralkar (46) and their nine-year-old son, Sid. Despite attempts by the paramedics to revive them, they were declared dead on the spot. 

The family had been living on the 36th floor of the building. Local MP Neil Coyle said police believed the child's serious health conditions may have been a factor behind what he described as a "horrendous decision".

"It's a terrible tragedy, a family of three. Just awful. Some constituents saw it happen. The suggestion was that the child was born in the UK with severe illnesses, which the police inferred contributed to their horrendous decision," Coyle wrote in a letter to residents of the building.

According to reports, Pai and Paralkar moved from Mumbai to London in the early 2000s and established successful professional careers. Pai worked as a financial consultant, while Paralkar held senior positions in the construction industry.

Their son, Sid, had several medical conditions that required specialised educational and personal care. He also suffered from a kidney-related illness and was unable to speak. Paralkar devoted much of her time to caring for and homeschooling him, a responsibility that reports suggest placed considerable strain on her mental well-being.

Police have not yet determined the exact circumstances of the deaths and have classified the case as an "unexpected death" investigation. Authorities said the family’s next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers.