MUMBAI: In a case of a relationship involving three men going sour, a 25-year-old

died of skull fracture on Sunday after he was attacked with an iron candle stand by one of his companions. The attacker, Dhaval Unadkat, a Kandivli resident and himself a computer engineer who manages his family’s

, has been arrested for murder, police said.

The victim,

, didn’t die immediately. After suffering a head injury, he was taken first to Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, where he said he didn’t want stitches. It was recommended that he go to Lilavati Hospital where advanced technology would be available. When doctors at Lilavati advised admission, Raval took discharge against medical advice and died in the evening, said senior inspector Girish Anavkar.

According to Bandra police, Unadkat, Raval and one Mohammed Asif, all 25, became friends via Instagram and other social media platforms a few months ago and entered into a gay relationship.

However, Asif, a Bandra resident who is into the garment business and who has been made a complainant in the case, said in the FIR that he had recently “blocked” Unadkat after the latter refused to undergo some medical tests. Upset over Asif not taking his calls, Unadkat visited his rented home Yasmin Villa at Hill Road at 11.30am on Sunday and was angry when he saw Asif and Raval together in the room. A scuffle ensued.

Dhaval Unadkat, a computer engineer, attacked Parth Raval (R), also a techie, with a candle stand, fracturing his skull. The injury led to his death

Victim didn’t want stitches, left hospital after first aid

Mohammed Asif alleged that Unadkat tried to strangle him with a wire. “On seeing this, Raval intervened and was hit with a candle stand made of iron,” the complaint stated. Asif refused to talk to TOI.

When Raval, who was bald, started bleeding from the head, the other two panicked and rushed him to Holy Family Hospital at 11.45am. When, on saying no to stitches, Raval was advised to rush to Lilavati as he had suffered a skull fracture, the victim and his friends headed there but left at 2pm after the injured man had got first aid. “Raval asked doctors to treat him using some medicinal gel instead of stitching the wound and took discharge against medical advice,” senior inspector Anavkar said.

The three then returned to Asif’s rented Hill Road villa, and Unadkat soon left for his Kandivli residence. When, at around 6pm, Asif called Raval, who was resting in another room in the house, there was no response. Police said Raval, who lay unconscious, was then taken to Lilavati where he was declared dead before admission. Police arrived on being informed by the hospital authorities, and during inquiry, Asif revealed the nature of the incident. “Raval may have died because of the skull fracture. At around 9pm a case was registered and late Sunday night, Unadkat was arrested,” police said. Apart from murder, he has been booked for attempt to murder and criminal intimidation and remanded in police custody till November 9.

Asif and Unadkat told police they had got “hypnotized” during some video chats and entered into a relationship. Unadkat had come over to Asif’s place on Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning, Asif had asked his help to come the next day as they “wanted some privacy.” As Raval’s parents are settled in Dubai, the body was claimed by his cousin. Police said a probe is on.