Panchkula man, brother-in-law found murdered after ‘Chhathi’ party

2 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jul 4, 2026 05:52 PM IST

The man was found lying in a pool of blood near the Sector 19 Industrial Area underpass and his brother-in-law was found murdered a few metres away (Representational image)

A family celebration in Panchkula turned tragic after a man and his acquaintance were found murdered within hours of each other following an alleged altercation between the two.

The deceased have been identified as Sanjeet and Arjun Kashyap. Both bodies were later recovered near the Sector 19 Industrial Area underpass. They were shifted for post-mortem examination.

According to the police, Sanjeet had organised a naming ceremony for his newborn son at his residence in Sector 19 on Friday night, and Kashyap, who was allegedly in a relationship with Sanjeet’s sister for the past three years, attended the function, along with three of his friends.

The police said Sanjeet was reportedly unhappy with the relationship. During the function, the two allegedly got into a heated argument that escalated into a physical scuffle, with both sides exchanging abuses. Following the altercation, Kashyap left the venue with his three friends, while Sanjeet later left separately with his friends.

A police officer associated with the investigation said the investigators are working on a theory that Sanjeet was first stabbed by Kashyap, following which Sanjeet’s friends allegedly attacked and fatally stabbed Kashyap. The police stressed that the sequence of events is still under investigation and that the theory is being verified through forensic and other evidence.

The police teams from the Sector 19 police post, Sector 20 police station, the Crime Branch and the Forensic Science Laboratory examined the scene and collected evidence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amrinder Singh said a case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory.

Professional Background

Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance.

Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows.

Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)

Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends:

1. Investigative & Financial Reporting

"Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff.

"Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control.

"Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT.

2. Governance & Constitutional Status

"What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance.

"MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure.

"No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term.

3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment

"Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts.

"UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network.

"Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump.

4. Lifestyle & Local Trends

"Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year.

"After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges.

Signature Beat

Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse.

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