PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full Name: Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati
Profession: Commander, Indian Navy
Date of Birth: Year 1925
Age (at the time of death): 79 Years
Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Not Known
Nationality: Indian
Hometown: Not Known
Religion: Zoroastrianism
Marriage Date: July 1949
Age: 79 Years
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EDUCATION
School: Not Known
College/University: Royal Navy College, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States
Educational Qualification: Not Known
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 183 cm in meters – 1.83 m in feet inches – 6′
Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 65 kg in pounds – 143 lbs
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Family: Father: Manekshaw Nanavati Mother: Mehra Nanavati Brother: Hoshang (Younger brother) Sister: Bapsi Sidhwa (writer,Cousin-Sister)
Marital Status: Married
Affairs/Girlfriends: Sylvia
Wife/Spouse: Sylvia Nanavati
Children: Sons – Pheroze Nanavati and 1 more Daughter – Tannaz
Wife: Sylvia
OTHER INFORMATION
Birth Place: Not Known
Date of Death: 24 July 2003
Place of Death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Death Cause: Not Known
Address: Cuffe Parade, South Mumbai, India
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
K. M. Nanavati, a decorated Senior Naval Officer, navigated both the high seas and the tumultuous waters of personal tragedy in a story that would capture national attention. His naval career was marked by frequent voyages, during which he served his country diligently. It was during his time in England for naval training that he encountered love in the form of his British wife. Their relationship blossomed in a foreign land, but the realities of life back in India would soon unravel the fabric of their marriage.
On April 27, 1959, upon returning from one of his voyages, Nanavati sensed an unsettling change in his home. Concerned for his family’s well-being, he confronted his wife, who ultimately revealed a painful truth: she was having an affair with Prem Ahuja, a Sindhi businessman from Bombay. Devastated by her betrayal, Nanavati made a series of choices that would forever alter the course of his life. After dropping his wife and children at the Metro Cinema, a local movie theater, he made his way to a naval base in Mumbai, where he retrieved his service pistol—an act that set off a tragic chain of events.
What transpired next was shocking and hauntingly decisive. Nanavati returned to Ahuja’s residence and confronted him, fatally shooting him three times in the chest. After committing the act, he unloaded his weapon and surrendered to the Provost Marshal of the Western Naval Command. His arrest sparked a media frenzy, with tabloid Blitz playing a pivotal role in shaping public opinion around the case, portraying Nanavati as a wronged husband—a narrative that resonated deeply with the public. The tabloid’s coverage was so compelling that the price of a copy surged from 25 paise to 2 rupees as interest in the case skyrocketed.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Ahuja’s sister, Mamie Ahuja, filed a case against Nanavati for murder, which led to a highly publicized trial. In a surprising turn, the jury acquitted him with an 8-1 vote. However, this decision was met with disapproval from the presiding judge, who characterized it as a perversion of justice, prompting a referral of the case to the Bombay High Court. In a stunning reversal, Nanavati was sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, after serving three years, he was pardoned by the then Governor of Maharashtra, Vijaylakshmi Pandit, a decision influenced by the complex ethnic-political landscape of the time.
Following his release, Nanavati chose to leave India behind. He emigrated to Ontario, Canada, where he started anew with his wife and children, seeking a life away from the shadows of his past. Despite attempts by the Hindustan Times to reconnect with him for an interview, he remained resolute in his silence, choosing not to revisit the memories of his infamous case. The story of K. M. Nanavati not only captivated the public but also inspired filmmakers, leading to the creation of three notable films—Achanak (1973), Yeh Raastey Hain Pyar Ke (1963), and Roustam (2016)—each exploring the intricate dynamics of love, betrayal, and justice.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.