Malad suicide: Motive still unclear, say police

ROHIT ALOK
A day after a 35-year-old man jumped to death from the fourth floor of a housing society in Malad, the motive for his suicide remained unclear, the police said.

The deceased, Harilal Japsilal Prajapati, a native of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, had been recently employed at the home of an estate agent living in the complex, the police said. “Prajapati’s employers know very little about him. We are hoping his brother, who will arrive in Mumbai on Sunday, will be able to tell us about a motive,” said Ajit Surve, senior inspector, Malad police station.

According to residents in the society, Prajapati was heard screaming “help, help, call the police”, “I’m from Azamgarh (UP)” and “I have four children”, before jumping off on Friday afternoon. The police said Prajapati had been hired 15 days ago at the home of Narain Chandak. “He was employed based on a reference in Delhi. Chandak did not get him verified with the police,” said Surve. When contacted, Chandak declined to comment.