Maharashtra: Man died by suicide due to harassment by moneylenders, say police

The body of Shahu Sadashiv Mane, was found on the railway tracks of the GTB Nagar railway station early Sunday.

Police found that Mane resided in the Pratiksha Nagar in Sion and had not returned home till late Saturday night following which his wife called on his mobile phone.

The phone was answered by a cop who said his body had been found. His son Vinay and his wife rushed to the KEM Hospital where he was declared dead. Police said they found a suicide note in his pocket.

An official said that Mane was under stress as he was unable to pay Rs 3.5 lakh he had taken from Manisha Dethe (40), a resident of Sardar Nagar in Sion Koliwada.

He was under pressure to take a loan after a food and milk business started by him suffered losses during the Covid-induced lockdown. The loan was allegedly taken at a monthly interest of nine per cent.

An officer said that as the loan repayment was delayed, Manisha Dethe and her husband Sudhir Dethe would visit Mane’s house and abuse him in front of the family members. Mane was unable to settle debt and started borrowing from others.

As per the family, the Dethe couple, however, continued to pressure Mane saying the loan amount has gone up. “Manisha Dethe and her husband used to abuse him and threatened to kill him if the loan was not repaid,” the official said.

On Saturday morning again, Manisha Dethe visited Mane’s residence and refused to leave until the loan was paid back. Mane’s wife called up his mobile number and informed him that Manisha Dethe was waiting for him at the home.

Mane didn’t return home till Saturday late night out of fear, the police said. Under pressure over non-payment of the loan, Mane committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving local train, the official said.