08 February,2009 12:10 PM IST | | Rita Ghose
Keruji Murlidharan Shinde (42), a police constable for 21 years on Thursday consumed poison and succumbed at KEM Hospital on Saturday.
Preliminary inquiries by the police reveal that Keruji was suspended from duty at the LA Marg police station, Worli around two weeks ago.
Family and friends allege that a senior most police official was harassing him and he couldn't bear the pressure. No suicide note was left behind, say the police.
According to ACP K B Shinde of local arms (LA) II division Worli, "He was suspended on the grounds of drinking while on duty. There may have been some family problems coupled with the suspension issue that could've led him to commit suicide."
Before taking the drastic step on Thursday, the constable had called his wife to tell her that he was suspended from duty.
Speaking to his wife, Nanda on the phone, he said, "I have been suspended and I do not know what to do. I cannot come back to you and the children. Our daughters' wedding is in one month. I cannot attend it bearing this disgrace."
A close friend,u00a0 of the deceased refused the claims made by ACP Shinde stating that he was a teetotaler and demanded an inquiry into the claims, "He never drank alcohol. A senior police official was targeting him. They were refusing to transferring him and assigning all kinds of odd duties. A lot of constables complain about favourtism."u00a0
Vittal Nalavade, the deceased's brother in law said, "He wanted to resign a while ago, but because his wife asked him to wait till his daughter got married, he was waiting. He was a very good police officer and was being harassed by a senior police officer."
According to a few colleagues, Shinde never took a penny from anyone and was an honest and committed policeman.
Constable Shinde was from Pingury village in Pune and was living in Mumbai along with 15 others in a chawl at kalachowki. He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons, who are currently in Pingury.
According to a hospital official he had consumed a green colour liquid poison. They however, couldn't confirm what the substance was.
