A 47-year-old man and his six-year-old daughter were found dead in Sydney's Parramatta River in what police say was a murder-suicide on June 13, 2026 [1, 2]. Authorities recovered the bodies after reports of a man floating in the water and later recovered the girl's body from the riverbed that evening, aided by divers and CCTV footage [1, 2].
NSW police marine area commander Supt Joe McNulty said investigators found a suicide note and other evidence that led to the conclusion the man deliberately threw his daughter into the water before jumping himself [1]. “We have uncovered a suicide note and some other evidence drawing us to this conclusion,” he said [1]. Life jackets rented for both were found on the boat but were not used during the incident [1, 2].
The man was identified as Maulik Dhandhukia, an Indian-origin Australian resident who worked as an analyst in application support for the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and had prior technology sector experience in Australia and India [2]. Police reported no known history of domestic violence or police issues involving Dhandhukia [1, 2]. The six-year-old girl was the only child of the couple involved [1].
A friend of Dhandhukia contacted police about an hour after the man’s body was found to raise concerns for their welfare [1]. Dhandhukia had rented boats at least twice before, including once with a woman and child thought to be family [2]. Weeks before the event, he publicly wrote about living with chronic neck pain from a 2005 gym injury [2].
Supt Christine McDonald from Burwood police command said the case would deeply impact any mother. "Obviously, a mother in this situation … it would rock any mother to the core," she said [1].
Family members have set up a fundraiser to support Pritiben Dhadhukia, the widow of the deceased, to meet immediate expenses [2].
