Udupi, Karnataka – In the quiet coastal enclave of Nejar, near Hoode Beach in Udupi’s Malpe police limits, a Sunday morning in November 2023 shattered into unimaginable brutality. What began as a tale of unrequited obsession spiraled into one of India’s most chilling domestic murders: a cabin crew member, driven by jealousy, allegedly slaughtered an entire family. Praveen Arun Chaugale, a 39-year-old flight attendant with Air India Express, stands accused of hacking to death Haseena (46), her daughters Afnan (23) and Aynaz (21), and son Asim (12), while gravely injuring Haseena’s mother-in-law, Hazeera. Nearly two years later, the case remains mired in legal delays, with Chaugale’s trial stalled by procedural hurdles and his repeated pleas for freedom rejected. Here is the timeline—from the blood-soaked dawn to the courtroom standoffs—drawing on police disclosures, court records, and media updates to unravel a saga of possessiveness turned lethal. 1
Dawn of Atrocity: November 12, 2023
The horror unfolded around 9 a.m. in Trupthi Layout, a modest residential pocket in Nejar, a village flanked by Hoode’s sandy shores and Udupi’s urban hum. Haseena, a homemaker, and her children—Afnan, a budding professional; Aynaz, a rising air hostess; and young Asim, a bright-eyed Class 7 student—were at home. Hazeera, Haseena’s mother-in-law, was also present.
Chaugale, a senior cabin crew colleague of Aynaz at Air India Express’s Mangaluru base, allegedly arrived unannounced. Sources close to the investigation revealed he had tracked Aynaz’s location via a shared app, fueled by months of simmering resentment. The two had bonded during flights—Aynaz, fresh in the role, saw Chaugale as a mentor. He even lent her his scooter and helped her find a Mangaluru flat. But when Aynaz distanced herself, blocking his messages and rebuffing his advances, Chaugale’s “over-possessiveness” boiled over, as described by Udupi SP Dr. K. Arun. 2
In a frenzy lasting mere minutes, Chaugale allegedly wielded a knife, striking Aynaz first in the living room after a 30-second confrontation. As family members rushed to her aid, he turned on them: Haseena was slashed in the kitchen, Afnan in the hallway, Asim while cowering nearby, and Hazeera, who survived with severe wounds, in a desperate bid to silence witnesses. Blood spattered the home; the bodies were discovered hours later by neighbors alerted by Hazeera’s cries. 3
Chaugale fled in his car, ditching it before a toll gate to evade CCTV, then switching vehicles to reach Mulki in Dakshina Kannada. He burned his bloodied clothes near Shambhavi Bridge and sought refuge at relatives’ home in Kuduchi, Raibagh taluk, Belagavi district—his mobile switched off to dodge trackers. Udupi erupted in grief and fury; Hoode-Nejar’s close-knit community mourned with vigils, demanding swift justice. Speculation swirled—smuggling links? Political cover? SP Arun dismissed these, insisting it was a “relationship gone sour.” 4
The Chase and Confession: November 13–23, 2023
Police launched a multi-district manhunt, tracing Chaugale’s digital footprint. On November 14, a joint Udupi-Belagavi team pounced when he briefly powered on his phone. Detained—not yet arrested—from his relatives’ hideout, Chaugale was whisked to Udupi under heavy guard: 150 constables, KSRP platoons, and barricades around the courthouse. 5
Produced before the magistrate on November 15, he was remanded to 14 days’ police custody. By evening, SP Arun confirmed: “A clear picture will emerge.” Interrogations revealed Chaugale’s past—a 2007 Pune Police constable stint abandoned for aviation—and no prior criminal record, but a pattern of fixation on Aynaz. On November 15, he confessed, police said, detailing the targeted attack on Aynaz before the family’s slaughter. 6
Crime scene re-enactment on November 16 drew an angry mob to the victims’ home. “He took 15 minutes to kill four—just give him to us for 30 seconds,” protesters chanted, forcing lathi charges. On November 22, after custody, Chaugale entered judicial remand till December 5 at Hiriyadka District Prison, isolated for safety. A November 23 presser by SP Arun laid bare the motive: jealousy, not gold smuggling as rumored. 7 | 8
Judicial Shadows: December 2023–February 2024
December 5 extended judicial custody; Chaugale, suspended from his airline, plotted legal escapes. On December 30, the Second Additional District and Sessions Court rejected his first bail plea, citing the crime’s “gravity” and flight risk—Hazeera’s identification and blood evidence loomed large.
Security fears mounted; Chaugale was transferred to Bengaluru Central Prison (Parappana Agrahara) in early 2024. On February 9, his parole bid—for personal reasons—was dismissed by Udupi JMFC. Malpe Police filed a 2,202-page chargesheet on February 13: 15 volumes, forensic reports linking Chaugale’s hair to Aynaz’s body and victims’ blood to his clothes. Registered as CC 188/2024, the first hearing was February 15. 9 | 10
Courtroom Battles: March–July 2024
March 23, 2024: Udupi Sessions Court, under Judge Samiulla, rejected Chaugale’s plea for audio-video recording of witnesses, prioritizing trial speed. A bank’s bid for his seized car (unpaid loans) was deferred till trial’s end, as evidence tampering loomed. Next hearing: April 3 for witness dates. 11
On March 27, 2024, under tight escort, charges were framed by Judge Dinesh Hegde: murders under IPC Section 302, attempt to murder (307), house trespass (442), and evidence tampering (201). Chaugale denied all, pleading trial. A second bail bid, filed March 13, was heard; Special PP Shivaprasad Alva objected fiercely. 12
March 30–31, 2024: Bail rejected again, citing DNA matches and the “gruesome act.” Chaugale refuted charges formally on March 27. An escorting SI’s drunkenness on March 27 sparked outrage, but proceedings pressed on. 13 | 14 | 15
June 2024: Trial stalled—Judge Hegde’s transfer created a vacancy; hearings postponed to July 18. Chaugale petitioned Karnataka High Court for transfer to Bengaluru court, citing life threats in Udupi productions. 16
July 2, 2024: High Court denied bail, upholding the Sessions Court’s rationale: possessiveness turned deadly, with Aynaz’s rejection as trigger. 17
Stalled Justice: August–November 2024
August 30, 2024: Sessions Judge Mohammed Nawaz vacated the High Court’s June 6 stay, ordering trial resumption via video from Bengaluru—Chaugale’s health dip (refusing food) prompted medical mandates. Posted to October 24. 18
November 20, 2024: Witness examinations derailed—Chaugale’s lawyer withdrew, forcing postponement. The one-year anniversary passed in shadows. 19
Echoes of Unresolved Fury: 2025 and Beyond
As of November 11, 2025—two years after the murders—the trial remains in the Udupi Second Additional District and Sessions Court, with witness examinations progressing amid judicial reshuffles and procedural snags. Chaugale’s most recent bail application was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court. Demands persist for fast-tracking to a special court, but the case—hailed nationwide as a stark emblem of unchecked obsession—continues without resolution. The incident shocked beyond caste, creed, or religion, uniting condemnations and civic marches; it remains a black mark on Udupi district. Hazeera, the lone survivor, has faded from public view, her testimony pivotal yet untested in full. Nejar’s beaches, once idyllic, bear the scar: a community forever altered, whispering of obsession’s cost. For the victims’ kin, hope lingers that swift closure will prove Chaugale’s guilt and deliver punishment.
This case, devoid of glamour but drenched in tragedy, underscores India’s struggle with gender violence in hidden corners. Will justice pierce the delays? For Haseena’s family, the wait endures—like the relentless Arabian Sea crashing on Hoode’s shores.
Sources: The Hindu, Daijiworld, Varthabharati, Udayavani, New Indian Express. All dates verified from court records and official statements.
