The Burari Deaths: A Psychological Case Study of Mass Suicide and Shared Delusion in Delhi (2018)

This presentation delves into the tragic 2018 Burari deaths, where 11 members of the Chundawat family were found dead in their Delhi home. Through detailed analysis, it explores the interplay of psychological factors, ritualistic practices, and family dynamics that led to this incident. Key sections include:

Timeline of Events: From Bhopal Singh’s death to Lalit’s psychological influence.

Crime Scene Analysis: Mysterious diaries, ritualistic instructions, and forensic findings.

Psychological Autopsy: Shared psychosis, Lalit’s trauma, and erosion of free will.

Investigation Challenges: Media pressure, ambiguous diary entries, and legal dilemmas.

Lessons for Law Enforcement: Importance of cultural context, mental health assessments, and community engagement.

Relevant for students of psychology, criminology, and sociology, this case study highlights the dangers of unchecked belief systems and collective delusion.

1. THE BURARI DEATHS
HOUSE OF SECRETS
C068 Kaustub Mule
C069 Raj Shukla
C089 Raj Parmar
C095 Anuj Chandak
C096 Vedant Jadhav
C097 Anikait Yadav

2. In the year 2018, in Delhi, 11 members of the
Chundawat family were found dead in their
home in Burari, initially believed to be a
mass suicide.
The investigation revealed a complex story
involving mental health issues, superstition,
family dynamics, and shared delusions.
The case gained significant media attention
and raised questions about psychological
impacts, unchecked belief systems, and
family influence.
INTRODUCTION

3. Bhopal Singh

4. 1
JUNE 30, 2018Before 2007 2007 2015-2017 JULY 1, 2018
2 3 4 5
The Family's
Background
The Chundawat
family, originally
hailed from
Rajasthan and
had lived in Burari
for over two
decades.
Death of Bhopal
Singh
The head of the
family, Bhopal
Singh Chundawat,
passed away.
Increasing
Influence of Lalit
Lalit imposed strict
rules on the family,
including no
gossiping with
outsiders and
following rituals
One of the
daughters,
Priyanka, got
engaged, and the
family celebrated.
Bhavnesh and Lalit
ordered 20
chapatis from a
local eatery
The Day Before
the Deaths
The Day of the
Incident
10 family
members were
found hanging in
the hallway, with
their hands tied,
and eyes
blindfolded.

5. CRIME SCENE
10 family members hanging, 1 strangled.
Mysterious 11 water pipes & 11 iron rods found at
the house?
11 handwritten diaries detailing the ritual.
Cotton in ears, blindfolds, hands tied.
No forced entry or struggle

6. INVESTIGATION
Diaries revealed ritualistic instructions
matching the crime scene.
CCTV confirmed no forced entry or external
involvement.
Autopsy ruled death by hanging; no
poisoning or sedation found.
Family believed they would survive the
ritual.

7. Lalit Chundawat influenced the
family under his father’s "spirit."
Psychologists identified it as
"shared psychosis" (group
delusion).
Police ruled deaths as accidental,
not homicide.
Case highlighted blind faith,
psychological control, and
superstition.

8. Hanging Setup Objects at the Scene Perimortem Artifacts Handwritten Diaries
10 family members
hanged from an iron
grill;
the grandmother was
strangled with a belt in
an adjacent room.
Stools, bandages, and
electrical wires
No signs of forced
entry;
House was locked from
the inside
11 diaries (2007–2018)
detailing ritual
instructions “road to
god”
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT
THE CRIME SCENE

9. Autopsy Report Findings
Cause of Death No External Injuries Psychological
Autopsy
Asphyxiation
10 out of 11 members died of
hanging
suggesting voluntary
participation
No blunt force trauma,
fractures, or wounds.
Hands of three family
members were loosely tied,
raising doubts about their
voluntary participation.
Indicated shared psychosis
- condition where delusions
are passed within a closely-
knit group.
Narayan Devi
Found in another room,
cause suspected to be
strangulation,
but no external force signs.

10. FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
REPORT
No Traces of Poison or Drugs
No Forced Ingestion of Chemicals
Psychological Influence Instead of Substance
Influence
The absence of drugs suggested ritualistic or
psychological submission
An accidental death due to a ritual gone
wrong, rather than a murder/suicide.

11. HANDWRITNG
ANALYSIS
Forensic handwriting experts examined the diaries to
verify authenticity and confirm the authorship of
various entries.
The notes spanned over a decade and were written by
multiple family members, indicating long-term
documentation of their beliefs and rituals.
The content of these notes included specific
instructions for spiritual rituals, prayers, and reflections
on their faith.
The final diary entries detailed the step-by-step
process of the ritual that ultimately led to their deaths,
reinforcing that it was premeditated.

12. The language and tone of the writings suggested
a profound belief in divine intervention, with
repeated mentions of guidance from a higher
power.
Several entries referred to the deceased father of
the family, whom they believed was spiritually
leading them, particularly through Lalit.
Handwriting consistency across different time
periods indicated that the notes were genuine
and not written under duress.
This forensic evidence confirmed that the deaths
were planned internally by the family, without
external coercion, aligning with psychological
findings of shared delusions.

13. Lalit’s Psychological Transformation
Trauma & PTSD:
Bike accident and Head Injury
Locked inside a burning shop
Lost his voice
Need for Authority:
Father’s death leaving a gap
Lalit needing respect
Claiming divine communication
Manipulation through faith:
Used religious narratives
Dictated rules through the diary

14. Psychological Control:
Family members were
conditioned to follow the diary’s
instructions without question.
Fear of divine punishment
ensured compliance.
The diary was written in third
person, reinforcing the illusion of
external guidance.
Performance of daily rituals
Family’s free will eroded over time

Establishing Shared Psychosis

15. 1. CCTV footage
verified the family's
movements in the
days leading up to
the deaths.
2. Purchases of
ropes and stools
were linked to the
ritual.
3. Footage showed
no signs of external
influence or coercion.
4. Forensic teams
used footage to
establish a timeline
of events.
5. Analysis
confirmed the
family's isolation
and lack of outside
contact.
6. No suspicious
individuals were
observed in the
footage.
7. Footage provided
crucial evidence of
premeditation.
8. Investigators
cross-referenced
footage with witness
statements.
9. Forensic analysis
ruled out the
possibility of foul
play by outsiders.

CCTV Footage Analysis

16. INVESTIGATION CHALLENGES
Unusual Nature of the Case:1.
The case was highly unusual, with no clear precedent in Indian
criminal history. The combination of mass deaths, ritualistic
elements, and the absence of external suspects made it
difficult to classify the incident as a suicide, murder, or accident.
2. Public and Media Pressure:
The case received extensive media coverage, leading to public
speculation and pressure on the police to solve it quickly.
Rumors of supernatural involvement and black magic further
complicated the investigation.
3. Interpreting the Diary:
The diary entries were cryptic and open to interpretation. While
they suggested ritualistic practices, they did not explicitly state
that the family intended to end their lives. This ambiguity made
it difficult to conclusively determine the motive.

17. 4. Lack of External Evidence:
There was no evidence of forced entry, struggle, or
involvement of outsiders. This made it challenging to
establish a murder theory, despite the suspicious
circumstances.
5. Psychological Complexity:
Understanding the family's psychological state was crucial
but difficult. The police had to rely on experts to analyze the
diary and the family's behavior, which added layers of
complexity to the investigation.
6. Legal and Ethical Dilemmas:
Since all the family members were deceased, there were no
suspects to charge or prosecute. This raised questions about
the legal and ethical implications of the case.
Investigation Challenges

18. Lalit’s claims of communicating with his deceased father may have been a
coping mechanism to deal with his trauma.
The family, in turn, may have supported Lalit's delusions as a way to help him
recover, inadvertently reinforcing the shared belief system.
Expert Opinions
The presence of ligature marks and the manner in which the bodies were
found (hands tied, eyes covered, and mouths taped) were consistent with a
planned event rather than a spontaneous act.

19. MISTAKES & LESSONS FOR LAW
ENFORCMENT
Rushed to Conclude Mass Suicide
Mistake: Assumed it was a mass suicide without exploring other possibilities.
Lesson: Always keep an open mind and avoid jumping to conclusions. Thorough investigation is
key.
Delayed Psychological Assessment
Mistake: The family’s mental state wasn’t fully examined early on.
Lesson: Involve mental health experts early, especially when dealing with unusual family
dynamics.
Limited Community Engagement
Mistake: Didn’t engage enough with the community or extended family to understand potential
warning signs.
Lesson: Community insights can provide crucial context and clues.

20. Neglected Cultural Context
Mistake: Did not consider the family’s spiritual
practices and beliefs, which were important to
the case.
Lesson: Consider cultural, social, and religious
contexts in investigations.
Slow Public Communication
Mistake: Delayed communication with the
media led to rumors and confusion.
Lesson: Timely and clear communication is
crucial to prevent misinformation.

21. CONCLUSION
Initially, questions arose about whether Lalit could be charged under IPC Section 306 (Abetment
of Suicide) for influencing the family’s deaths. However, since Lalit was also deceased, no
charges were filed. The police treated the case as an unnatural death under IPC Section 174,
requiring an inquiry into suspicious deaths.
After months of investigation, the Delhi Police concluded that the deaths were a mass suicide
caused by shared delusions. Evidence, including the diary, autopsy reports, and psychological
evaluations, supported this theory. A closure report was filed and accepted by the court, with no
further legal action taken as all family members were deceased, leaving no suspects for
prosecution.

22. THANK YOU