Top cop to probe RTI activist's suicide case

Almost a week after RTI activist Vilas Baravkar hanged himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Chakan, (‘Fed up of police harassment, RTI activist hangs himself', March 26), the investigations into the case have been handed over to the additional superintendent of Pune, rural police, considering that Baravkar had named several senior ranking police officers in his suicide note.

Baravkar, in his suicide note, had named 57 of his relatives, whom, he believed, had connived with cops and were harassing him, which ultimately led to his suicide. A senior official of Pune Rural police said, "Baravkar's suicide note contains several high ranking officers, some retired, while some of them are still serving. This case is being closely monitored. So, we have decided to let the Additional Superintendent Vijaykumar Magar investigate the case thoroughly."

Deputy SP Vaibhav Kalubarme, who was investigating the case initially, told mid-day that till date, 10 of Baravkar's relatives' statements had been recorded. "Due to election workload, the procedure is taking time," he said.

Sushil Shevkare, Baravkar's son-in-law, said, "We haven't focused on the investigations as yet, as we were busy with the last rites and rituals."

Meanwhile, the State Information Commission has asked the authorities to make all information that Baravkar had sought in the past couple of years, public knowledge.

57
Number of relatives that Baravkar named in his suicide note