10 September,2026 11:02 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
A 28-year-old man preparing for competitive examinations, including the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam, allegedly died by suicide at his rented accommodation in Pune on Wednesday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Prathamesh Deshmukh, a native of Khasapuri village in Paranda tehsil of Dharashiv district. He had been living in Pune for the past four years while preparing for competitive examinations.
According to Zone 1 DCP of Pune City Police Krushikesh Rawale, Deshmukh was reportedly facing financial difficulties and owed around Rs 2.50 lakh to several people. His family was also dealing with financial problems.
Police recovered a note in which Deshmukh had mentioned details of the loans he had taken and repaid.
"Police suspect that financial difficulties and not being able to clear exams may have contributed to his mental stress, which could have resulted in an extreme step. A suicide note has been recovered," police said.
A case of suicide has been registered and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident comes amid protests by MPSC aspirants in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. Students have been demanding the resignation of the commission's chairman and secretary following an alleged paper leak in the examination for the post of Drug Inspector (Group B) under the Food and Drug Administration.
CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke linked Deshmukh's death to the pressure faced by students due to "exam irregularities, delays, uncertainty and a lack of accountability".
"Many students move away from home, survive on limited means and spend what little their families can afford on rent, coaching, books and repeated attempts. When this is compounded by exam irregularities, delays, uncertainty and a lack of accountability, the pressure can become unbearable. For students from financially vulnerable families, every delay is not just another date on the calendar," Dipke posted on X.
"It means more rent, more expenses, more dependence on their families and another year of their lives hanging in uncertainty. Students should not have to pay such a devastating price for failures in an examination system they are expected to trust. How many more students have to suffer before those responsible take accountability? How many lives must be lost before the system finally changes?" he said.
NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar expressed grief over Deshmukh's death and urged the government to take serious note of the pressure faced by students.
"In the past few years, due to various malpractices including paper leaks, a feeling of being sidelined is being created among students who study while nurturing a dream in their hearts, and because of this, their years and years are spent merely in appearing for examinations. On top of that, sometimes due to wet and sometimes dry drought-like conditions, parents are unable to give money to their children for education," he said.
"At such times, lakhs of students come to cities like Pune to study by borrowing money from others or taking loans, but because they are unable to repay this money due to their circumstances, financial stress increases and their self-respect is also hurt. Then, because of this, they adopt a path like suicide, which is extremely unfortunate. The government should take serious note of this, immediately remove corrupt officials from the MPSC and appoint officers with a clean image there, and should also provide substantial financial assistance to the families of students who have committed suicide, for having destroyed their dreams," he added.
(With inputs from ANI)
