Gajanan Devkate (in picture), hanged himself at his flat in Shagun Paradise building in Ulwe on Tuesday evening. (Photo shared on Rohit Pawar’s X handle)
MUMBAI: A 37-year-old government contractor allegedly died by suicide at his home in Navi Mumbai over non-payment of his outstanding bills, news agency PTI reported quoting a police officer on Wednesday.
He had repeatedly visited the executive engineer’s office in Mumbai to get his payments cleared, but to no avail, the official of Ulwe police station said. Police sources said he took contracts for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and various government departments. Following the incident, opposition parties in Maharashtra accused the state government of driving Marathi contractors to the brink of suicide, and demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the Devendra Fadnavis-led dispensation. As per the preliminary investigation, Devkate was facing severe financial strain as his bills were not paid even after the completion of the work. Following the incident, the Ulwe police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR).
“I earnestly request all Marathi contractors: suicide is not the way. We must unite and wage a massive struggle for our rights, our families, and our very existence. Through the path of struggle, we will bring this government back on track — but please, no one should resort to suicide. Heartfelt tribute to Gajanan Devkate! We all share in the grief of his family,” the legislator from Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar added.
As per the PTI report, the victim, identified as Gajanan Devkate, hanged himself at his flat in Shagun Paradise building in Ulwe on Tuesday evening, he said.