Lapses in probe by local police station that missed ‘suicide note’ come to fore

Sources said that apart from not finding the suicide note scribbled at the back of an exam question paper below the table where he studied, the local police which had the probe for nearly two weeks, did not take custody of some paperwork belonging to Darshan kept on the table or checked through his clothes to see if any suicide note was kept there. The suicide note was eventually found on March 3 when the SIT searched his room. So far no FIR has been registered as the family is yet to appear before the police to give a complaint.

An officer from Powai police station said that they had checked the room and that it was difficult at the police station level to conduct a in-depth probe as compared to an SIT – which searched the room for 10 hours – since they are swamped with work

The source added that apart from the Police Sub Inspector (PSI) Anil Kamble and an inspector, other senior officers too visited the hostel room on the day of the suicide and a day later. Eventually two days later the room was sealed and was opened again only on March 3, when PSI Kamble opened the door for the SIT with the two keys – one each belonging to Solanki and his roommate who had by then moved to another room. The source said that the IIT internal committee that conducted a probe too did not have access to the particular room since it was sealed.

The SIT team conducted a 10 hour search at the hostel room. It was when the officers pulled the chair that an exam paper was found lying below the table. ” While checking which paper it was, when the paper was turned, the words “…(student name) has killed me” were seen by an officer. The police then sought answer papers from IIT and also asked Solanki’s family to get some of his books. When the family eventually appeared before the SIT on March 16, they were shown the suicide note. A source said that while his mother said that the writing belonged to Solanki, the father was not certain it was Darshan’s writing.

While the police were hoping the family would give a written complaint against the person Darshan named in the suicide note, the family is thus far not convinced and has not appeared before the Powai police. An officer said that they are hopeful in the next few days the family will appear before the local Powai police to register an FIR.