The calmness after the Holi vacation in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh was suddenly broken by a horrendous act of domestic violence that has not only annihilated a family but also deeply shocked the local community. On Friday, March 6, 2026 a 25-year-old Hardik Malhotra reportedly killed his twin sister Himshikha and also seriously wounded his mother Neelima after he was in a state of severe emotional breakdown caused by a failed love affair.
About the Family
The siblings, originally from Budaun, they were both highly educated and professionally successful. The neighbors cannot quite believe that such a horrible crime can be committed by the very people who seem to be leading good lives.
- Himshikha Malhotra (25): A management graduate (MBA) who worked as an Assistant Manager at a prestigious IT firm in Gurugram.
- Hardik Malhotra (25): A B.Tech engineer who had previously worked at Google. Recently, he had left his corporate job to pursue a career as a YouTuber.
- Neelima Malhotra: The mother, an Assistant Branch Manager at a health insurance company. She had been raising the twins alone following a separation from her husband years ago.
The twins had traveled from Gurugram to their rented home in Buddhi Vihar Colony, Moradabad to celebrate the Holi festival with their mother.
The Chilling Sequence of Events
The incident took place on Friday afternoon while Neelima was working at her office.
According to police reports, Hardik and Himshikha were the only ones at home when the disagreement escalated into a fight. Apparently, Hardik was so enraged after his sister advised him about his mental health issues that he grabbed a big kitchen knife. In a “frenzy” he reportedly stabbed Himshikha more than 40 times while she was lying on her bed. Due to the extreme injuries, she died almost immediately.
Instead of running away right away, Hardik went to his mothers office. He reportedly convinced her to return home under a false pretext. After Neelima came in and saw her daughter lying in a pool of blood, she started shouting. Hardik then allegedly used the knife on his mother, stabbing her several times with the intention of killing her. Her shouting made the neighbours come to the house. After seeing the crowd Hardik fled the house in car, leaving the blood-stained weapon behind.
Motive For The Murder
According to the Moradabad police investigation led by SP City Ranvijay Singh, Hardik was suffering from depression for quite a while.
Originally, the girl Hardik met on Instagram was from Pune. They started their relationship after meeting over Instagram, and stayed together for about 7 months before they broke up.
After the breakup, Hardik’s behavior became increasingly volatile. His mom narrated that he held both her and Himshikha responsible for the breakup and thought that they might have caused the break or interfered.
On the day of the murder, Himshikha apparently tried to comfort him and even suggested he should seek help which ignited his violent outburst.
Current Status
Hardik Malhotra was apprehended by the police within 24 hours of the crime.
- Charges: A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and attempt to murder, with the addition of relevant sections of the Arms Act.
- Mother’s Condition: Neelima Malhotra is still serious condition in a district hospital, where she is being treated for multiple stab wounds.
- Police Statement: The authorities verified that the autopsy report supported the chief brutality of the attack, pointing out the exact number of wounds (more than 40), which were concentrated on the victims upper body and torso.
“The accused confessed that he lost his temper during the argument. He felt his family was the reason for his emotional pain,” stated a police official involved in the interrogation.
The incident has led to extensive discussions in the area about how social media-based relationships affect youth mental health and the lack of easily available support for those with severe clinical depression.
