In a suicide pact, a couple hanged their two children and later themselves from an iron pipe in their terrace at Mulund on early Wednesday. The police has recovered a lengthy suicide note, which however, does not mention the reason for the extreme step.
The deceased have been identified as Bharat Dadarao Ovhal (30), his wife Sushma (28) and children Sakshi (7) and Sumit (5). Bharat lived in a joint family with 16 members including his three brothers and their children, sisters-in-law and parents in his row house.
The lengthy suicide note signed by Bharat read, “I want to declare that I am not being pressurised by anyone. I am taking my wife and children along with me. Please do not harass my family or my friends. If I have committed any mistakes, please forgive me.” He further added, “I have mortgaged my bracelet in a bank for repaying pending installments worth Rs 34,000 for my Scorpio car. I request the police not to harass my family.”
He further addressed his three brothers in the note and said, “All of you please stay together.”
The note written and signed by Sushma read, “I would like to tell my parents that nobody should be held responsible for my suicide.”
The incident came to light on Wednesday morning when one of the neighbours living opposite the row house spotted them hanging from a pipe.
“The neighbour alerted the rest of the Ovhal family after which the incident came to light. On Tuesday night, Bharat, his wife and children had dinner with their family and went to the terrace to sleep. We assume that they might have committed suicide in the wee hours,” said Mr Shivaji Phadtare, police inspector (crime) from the Navghar police station.
Bharat is the third of four brothers. The police has ruled out financial constraints being the reason behind the suicide. Bharat owned four Pollution Under Control (PUC) cars and a Scorpio.
“Family disputes are being looked into. The post-mortem reports are also awaited,” added Mr Phatare.
Meanwhile, in another incident in the city, a 55-year-old man committed suicide by jumping from the terrace of his 16-storied apartment at Juhu Galli in Andheri on Wednesday.
The deceased Anish Ahmed Kalse ran a wholesale shop for computer parts in Andheri and lived with his wife Shagufta (43). He did not leave any suicide note.