A NEET Aspirant’s Education Turned Into a Death Sentence: Father Beats Daughter to Death for Scoring Low Marks
In a heartbreaking incident in Maharashtra, 17-year-old Sadhana Bhosale, a Class 12 student and NEET aspirant from Nelkaranji village, Sangli district, was brutally beaten to death by her father, Dhondiram Bhosale, a school teacher, for scoring low marks in a mock test. The tragedy, reported on June 23, 2025, has sparked widespread discussion on the dangers of academic pressure and parental expectations.
Incident Overview
Sadhana Bhosale, daughter of Dhondiram Bhosale, was diligently preparing for the NEET entrance exam. Her father, a school principal, was known for his strict approach and high expectations regarding her academic performance. On June 21, 2025, after Sadhana shared her mock test results, her father confronted her, leading to a violent assault that ended in her death.
Sequence of the Crime
- On Saturday night, Sadhana informed her father about her marks in a NEET mock test.
- Dhondiram confronted and accused her of underperforming, escalating into physical violence.
- He used the wooden handle of a stone grinder to brutally assault her in front of her mother and brother.
- The attack continued throughout the night, causing severe injuries.
- Sadhana was rushed to Ushakal Hospital in Sangli, where she was declared dead.
Investigation and Forensic Findings
Following the incident, Sadhana’s mother filed a murder complaint on June 22, 2025. Dhondiram Bhosale was arrested and remains in custody until at least June 24, 2025, as per police reports. The investigation revealed critical forensic evidence:
- Post-Mortem Report: Confirmed head trauma as the primary cause of death, with multiple injuries across the body.
- Murder Weapon: The wooden handle of a grinding stone was recovered and is being examined for blood, hair, tissue, and fingerprints.
Forensic Significance
- Cause of Death: Forensic post-mortem analysis pinpointed head trauma as the cause of death.
- Murder Weapon Analysis: The grinding stone handle is under forensic scrutiny for biological and fingerprint evidence.
- Timeline Verification: Pathologists estimated the time of death using rigor mortis, body temperature, and trauma analysis.
- Witness Statements: Corroborative accounts from Sadhana’s mother and brother, who witnessed the assault, are critical to the case.
- Psychological Analysis: The investigation is exploring family dynamics, stress, and potential history of abuse to understand the underlying triggers.
The Dangers of Academic Pressure
This tragic case underscores the toxic impact of academic pressure and parental expectations. Dhondiram, a school principal, reportedly projected his ambitions onto Sadhana, unable to accept her low scores. The situation escalated when Sadhana’s response—“even you scored less, papa”—triggered her father’s fragile ego, leading to fatal violence.
When academic performance becomes a matter of family pride or ego, failure can become fatal.
The intense competition surrounding exams like NEET often fosters a toxic environment, where students are compared to peers, straining parent-child relationships. Authoritarian parenting and communication gaps, as evident in this case, can have deadly consequences.
Conclusion
Sadhana Bhosale’s death is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of academic obsession and unchecked parental pressure. This case is not only a criminal act but a social disaster, urging society to prioritize mental health and foster supportive environments for students. It serves as a wake-up call to address the systemic issues surrounding competitive exams and family dynamics.
References
- Man beats daughter to death for scoring low marks in test in Sangli, held. (2025, June). Times of India.
- Maharashtra: Girl beaten to death by father for low NEET marks. (2025, June 24). India Today.
- Man beats daughter to death for scoring low marks in test in Sangli, held. (2025, June). Hindustan Times.
