Gurgaon police are investigating the deaths of two Optum software engineers, Insharah Ayyubi and Shresth Malik, whose bodies were discovered in separate locations on July 11 and 12, 2026. Investigators suspect Malik killed Ayyubi at a Sector 55 flat before dying by suicide on railway tracks near Garhi station, though a motive remains unconfirmed.
Timeline of the Investigation
The discovery of the two deaths began with a missing persons report filed by the family of 25-year-old Insharah Ayyubi at the Sector 56 police station. According to police, Ayyubi, who resided in paying guest accommodation, had moved into a 1-RK flat belonging to her colleague, Shresth Malik, on July 1. When officers forced entry into the locked flat, they found Ayyubi’s body with multiple stab wounds and a slit throat. Preliminary police assessments suggest she had been deceased for nearly 24 hours.
Approximately 60 kilometers away, the body of 25-year-old Shresth Malik had been recovered from railway tracks near Garhi station on Saturday. While the Government Railway Police (GRP) initially treated the death as an accident, the subsequent investigation into Ayyubi’s death led authorities to link the two incidents. Inspector Manoj Kumar of the Sector 56 police station confirmed that a murder case has been registered against Malik based on the complaint filed by Ayyubi’s family.
Professional and Personal Background
Both individuals were engineers at the international healthcare services company Optum. According to police, the two colleagues joined the company on the same day in July 2025 and frequently shared the same office cab. Ayyubi was a computer science graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, while Malik, a native of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, was an NIT Raipur graduate who had previously interned at Samsung.
Police reported that Malik’s family was initially informed of his death as a train accident and had traveled to Gurugram to claim his body. They were notified of the connection to Ayyubi’s death by Sector 56 police on Sunday afternoon while visiting the flat to collect Malik’s belongings. The last rites for both individuals were conducted on Monday following the completion of autopsies.
Ongoing Police Inquiries
The GRP and Sector 56 police are conducting parallel investigations into the deaths. Current efforts include scanning CCTV footage and digital footprints to establish a timeline and determine if the two were in a relationship. Authorities are also examining the laptops and mobile phones belonging to both deceased engineers. Inspector Manoj Kumar stated that investigators have not yet recovered a suicide note and intend to call the parents of both Ayyubi and Malik for detailed questioning as the probe continues.