: Nanavati confronted Ahuja in his bedroom—where Ahuja had just finished bathing—and asked if he intended to marry Sylvia and accept the children. After Ahuja replied, "Will I marry every woman I sleep with?" , Nanavati fired three shots, killing him instantly. Legal Proceedings and Public Frenzy
: Due to Nanavati’s frequent naval assignments, Sylvia began an extramarital affair with a wealthy businessman and family friend, Prem Ahuja .
The Parsi community in Bombay (now Mumbai) rallied behind Nanavati, viewing him as a man of honor defending his family's dignity. The prosecution argued that it was a cold-blooded, premeditated murder because Nanavati had to sign out the gun and drive a significant distance to Ahuja's house. The defense argued that it was a crime of sudden provocation and grave and sudden injury to the mind.
On , Coomy admitted Rustom to the Bombay Hospital (a prestigious private hospital) for a complete check-up. He was placed in a private room on the third floor.
The "real story" of Rustom Pavri is based on the 1959 landmark legal case of . While the 2016 film Rustom dramatizes the events to portray the protagonist as a patriotic hero, the actual history involves a tragic "crime of passion" that permanently changed the Indian judicial system. The Real Incident: K. M. Nanavati Case
Unlike a typical criminal, Nanavati did not flee. He drove straight to the Provost Marshal of the Western Naval Command, confessed to the crime, and surrendered himself to the police. This act of immediate surrender and his upright military reputation became central to his public image.
The real story had a slightly different ending than the movie. Nanavati spent three years in prison. Eventually, he was pardoned by the then Governor of Maharashtra, Vijayalakshmi Pandit (Jawaharlal Nehru's sister), following immense public pressure and a petition signed by millions.
One strange detail emerged: A nurse claimed that around , she heard a faint thud from the direction of Pavri’s room, but when she walked by, everything was silent. She did not check because the door was locked and the light was off.
Though not as famous as the Tamam Shud case or the Hinterkaifeck murders, the Pavri case has been discussed in Indian true crime circles. Theories include:
Rustom Pavri was a 42-year-old Parsi businessman living in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the mid-1960s. He was married to a woman named , and they had two children. By all accounts, Pavri was successful, well-connected, and appeared to lead a stable, comfortable life. He worked in the family business and was known to be an active member of the Parsi community.
In 1959, Commander Nanavati was frequently away from home due to his naval duties. During his absence, his wife Sylvia began an affair with Prem Ahuja.