Gaurav Tiwari: The Life and Controversial Death of India’s Paranormal Investigator
Gaurav Tiwari (born 2 September 1984 in Patna, Bihar) was a well-known Indian paranormal investigator, television personality, UFO field investigator, and the founder and CEO of the Indian Paranormal Society. Over his career, he became one of India’s most recognisable figures in the field of paranormal research and media.
Tiwari appeared on numerous television shows including MTV Girl’s Night Out with Rannvijay Singh, Haunted Weekends with Sunny Leone, Fear Files: Darr Ki Sacchi Tasvirein, and international programmes such as Haunting: Australia. He also made appearances on news channels and in films like 16 December and Tango Charlie, often serving as an expert on unexplained phenomena.
A Life Dedicated to the Unknown
Originally trained as a commercial pilot, Tiwari’s interest in the paranormal was sparked during his student years in Florida, USA. After reporting unusual experiences in his shared apartment — including unexplained sounds and sightings — he began investigating reported hauntings and other unexplained phenomena. Over time, he visited thousands of reputedly haunted locations worldwide, investigating hauntings, UFO sightings, alleged supernatural creatures, and other mysteries.
Through the Indian Paranormal Society, established in 2009, he brought greater visibility to paranormal research in India, conducting investigations, workshops, and media projects aimed at understanding — and in some cases demystifying — stories of the supernatural.
The Circumstances of His Death
On 7 July 2016, Gaurav Tiwari was found dead in the bathroom of his Dwarka residence in New Delhi at the age of 32.
According to police reports and the preliminary autopsy, Tiwari died from asphyxiation. Investigators concluded that his death was a suicide by hanging, finding a black mark around his neck and determining there was no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement. The police noted that he hanged himself inside the bathroom using a piece of cloth or a dupatta, and that no suspicious injuries or signs suggested external interference.
Senior officers stated clearly that it was a case of suicide, and said there was nothing in the initial investigation to suggest something criminal had occurred. As legal proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code were initiated, police did not register a case of murder or suspicious death.