Merchant Navy Cadet's Mysterious Death: Drowning Or Foul Play; Grieving Parents Seek Justice

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The grieving parents of 23-year-old Nikhil Shukla, a resident of Lucknow and promising Merchant Navy cadet, demanded a thorough investigation into the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death on July 3 at Lodhiya Kund under Simrol police station jurisdiction.

Nikhil, who had recently completed his sea time aboard three ships with the Shipping Corporation of India and appeared for his second mates’ exam in Mumbai on July 1, was known for his sharp intellect, discipline, and swimming skills—making the news of his drowning both shocking and questionable for his loved ones.

According to father Manjul Shukla and mother Seema Shukla, Nikhil travelled to Indore with his college friend and long-time roommate Rakesh Yadav after their exams, due to the unavailability of tickets to Delhi. On July 3, Nikhil, Rakesh, and two local friends, Harsh Rajpoot and Gaurav, set out to visit Omkareshwar. However, they later changed plans and instead went to Lodhiya Kund waterfall in the jungles of Simrol.

At around 5.30 pm that day, Nikhil sent a video from the car to his close friend Saakshi, indicating they were heading to the waterfall. He remained in constant touch with friends and family, sharing photos and updates until about 7:25 PM, when he informed Saakshi they were about to go swimming. Shortly after, he stopped responding.

Repeated calls from Saakshi and others between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm went unanswered. Eventually, at 11:26 pm, Rakesh informed Saakshi that Nikhil had “gone into the water flow and is not alive.” He offered no explanation or proof and failed to notify Nikhil’s parents directly, Nikhil’s parents said.

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Shukla family also alleged that Rakesh and his friends delayed calling emergency services and left the hospital before they arrived the next day. According to the police statement, the group claimed Nikhil drowned around 6 pm. However, the family insists Nikhil was alive and actively communicating until at least 7.25 pm, contradicting that timeline.

They stated that visible injuries on Nikhil's body, including a head wound, neck swelling, deep forehead marks, and injuries on his hands and shoulders, which suggest physical trauma not consistent with drowning. Nikhil’s friends did not use their own car to rush Nikhil to the hospital, choosing instead to wait for an ambulance.

There were delays in informing the family and the police, with inconsistent responses and avoidance from the individuals involved. Rakesh and the others left the hospital without meeting the family, only returning after police intervention the following day.

Autopsy report is still awaited

Simrol police station Amit Kumar Bhamore informed Free Press that it was a case of drowning. However, the autopsy report is awaited to know the cause of death. He said that the autopsy examination report would be received on Monday.

On the other hand, Nikhil’s parents are urging the authorities to treat the case as suspicious and to initiate a full investigation. They requested immediate review of call records and location data, a forensic examination of Nikhil’s injuries and complete post-mortem analysis, questioning of all individuals present during the incident and CCTVs retrieval from nearby areas and statements from possible eyewitnesses.

Speaking with immense pain, Nikhil’s parents said, “Our son was a bright, kind-hearted young man with a future full of promise. His life ended under circumstances that cannot be dismissed as a mere accident. We demand justice.”