Content warning: This article contains mention of suicide and death.
On the morning of July 7, 2016, the man who had spent years investigating claims of the paranormal became the centre of a mystery of his own. According to the reports surrounding his final moments, a loud thud was heard from the bathroom, and when family members rushed to him, they found him in the bathroom in a disturbing state, with a black mark around his neck. Gaurav Tiwari was found unconscious inside the bathroom of his Dwarka home in Delhi, and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. What followed was an investigation that produced an official conclusion but left behind a trail of conspiracies, controversy and speculations that continue to intrigue people today.
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Who Was Gaurav Tiwari
Gaurav Tiwari, born on September 2, 1984, was India’s first and most famous paranormal investigator and the founder of the Indian Paranormal Society. Initially pursuing a career as a commercial pilot in the US, Gaurav reportedly had poltergeist activity around his Florida apartment, which led him to change his career trajectory to that of a paranormal investigator to understand a realm of existence he had somehow tapped into. He received his specialised training in the US itself, later becoming an ordained minister of the Metaphysical Church of Humanistic Sciences. He founded the Indian Paranormal Society in 2009 and the G.R.I.P Academy to train others using scientific equipment and psychological methodology.
Source: 6 things to know about ‘ghost hunter’ Gaurav Tiwari. What haunted his world?
Gaurav Tiwari soon became a familiar face to many viewers through television appearances in popular TV shows like MTV Girls Night Out, Haunted Weekends with Sunny Leone, Bhoot Aaya and several other shows and channels as a paranormal investigator. What made him stand out was not just the subject he worked on, but the way he approached it. His science-first approach gave the work credibility that set him apart from sensational ghost stories.
The Final Months
According to reports, Gaurav Tiwari’s final months were marked with work pressure and tension at home regarding his working hours. Police sources also suggest that he appeared to be functioning normally shortly before his death, even checking emails minutes earlier, while family accounts later added that he had spoken of a “negative force pulling him towards itself” and that he felt “unable to resist it”.
What the Investigation Revealed
The preliminary autopsy report confirmed that Gaurav committed suicide and “no foul play was involved”. While reports noted a neck mark, a broken hanger, a reported quarrel, and family claims of mentioning of negative forces by Gaurav, the reason for his death is determined to be asphyxiation or death by strangulation.
Mystery That Still Lingers
Gaurav Tiwari’s story still remains as one of the most debated topics online, not only due to the uncertainty of the event that took place but also the legacy that he left behind. For many, his death became more than a tragic loss. It marked the passing of a man who dedicated his life to exploring the unexplained, leading some to view the circumstances through a supernatural lens. Beyond the speculation and headlines, Gaurav’s passion, dedication, and influence continue to shape the discussions he helped ignite. Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery, a 2025 television series release, unravels his life events and a perspective towards the mystery itself.
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