Diagnosed ‘suicidal’ prior to arrest, underwent treatment in jail: What Parbhani suicide victim’s records reveal

“After we arrested Pawar following the incident, we were informed that he had sought treatment from two different psychiatrists in Akola who had diagnosed him with mental illness and said he was suicidal. He was also suffering from alcoholism. We had informed the prison, and he had been receiving treatment there,” a senior police officer said.

As per court records, Pawar got regular bail in November 2025, but as he could not pay a surety of Rs 50,000, he continued to remain behind bars. It was on January 7 this year that an additional sessions judge allowed his release without surety, after an application for the same was moved by the legal aid department, saying he did not have the wherewithal for the same, and his family too was not in touch with him.

While granting Pawar bail in November, the court considered arguments by his lawyer, who mentioned that soon after being arrested on December 10, 2024, he was referred to a medical hospital in Nanded, which said that he had previously sought treatment for behavioural issues and alcohol use from a psychiatrist in Akola since 2012. Further, he was admitted to an Akola hospital from September 2024 to November 2024, Pawar’s lawyer had argued, as per the bail order.

His assessment report stated that he was suffering from a psychotic illness and a mood disorder, with doctors opining that it was important for him to take regular treatment for the same, the order added.

In fact, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had not conducted a polygraph and narcoanalysis on Pawar, saying he was not completely medically fit, and his statement before the police was recorded in jail in the presence of a psychiatrist, the bail order read. He was then taking treatment from a hospital in Yerwada, Pune, which later provided a report saying that Pawar was fit to stand trial.

Pawar was eventually released on bail on January 7. Four days later, he allegedly died by suicide. A police official from Parbhani rural police station said that there was no suicide note left behind, and his distant relatives too did not suspect any foul play. His last rites were held on Monday, the official added.

The death of an activist

On December 10, 2024, a replica of the Constitution installed near a Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue outside the Parbhani district collector’s office was damaged. Pawar was apprehended at the spot by bystanders and handed over to the police.

His arrest triggered protests in Parbhani led by Ambedkarite activists, including a city shutdown the following day, during which several people were detained.

The situation escalated further after the death of Somnath Suryavanshi, a law student and an Ambedkarite activist, who was arrested during the protests. His family alleged custodial assault, leading to outrage. After the issue was raised during the winter session of the state Assembly in 2024, the government suspended an inspector and ordered an inquiry into the violence by a retired high court judge.