Former IIT prof jumps to his death

Police received a call from the campus around 12.30 pm. “The incident occurred at 11.05 am. Sharma used to visit the campus often to meet his friends. Initially,we got a call stating that somebody had fallen off the building. But when we investigated further,we found that he had jumped off the building with the intention of committing suicide,” a senior police officer said.

No suicide note was found at the spot,he added.

Police said he may have committed suicide because he suffered from chronic joint pain and other illnesses. “A preliminary inquiry suggested that he was disturbed due to health reasons. Also,he was upset over a court case with IIT. We are investigating the matter,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chhaya Sharma said.

Professor Sharma is survived by his wife and three children. Two of his sons are settled abroad,and his daughter is a student at IIT-Bhubaneswar. The body was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for a post-mortem examination,and the results are awaited.

The police are also trying to contact the professor’s family.