Why suicides by cops are 'accidents'

Hours after Additional Director General of Police Addl DG of Maharashtra police Ranjit Kumar Sahay succumbed to his burn injuries and cops declared his death to be accidental rumours are swirling that the case is not as open and shut as officials would like the public to believe Legal experts say that in most cases when cops do commit suicide the force normally tries to sweep the truth beneath the rug and term the death as accidental so that superiors who might have abused or pressurised their subordinates go scotfree and the next of kin receive all emoluments including the insurance claims Lawyer Dinesh Tiwari said ldquoThe police should conduct an impartial probe while investigating the untimely demise of one of their own as the truth could be different from the circumstances that are being presented On several occasions the truth is suppressed and there are attempts to prove the death to be accidental They also do so to ensure that family members receive all emolumentsrdquo Insurance claims A senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity ldquoIf a case mentions suicide in the report then receiving insurance and other claims becomes difficult Most cases are reported as accidental deaths under Section 174 of the CrPcrdquo As most senior and former police officers were paying their respects to Sahayrsquos grieving family they were unavailable for comment Deaths under pressure Case 1 Name Ranjit Kumar Sahay 52 Designation Additional Director General State Police Housing Department When September 15 2013 Where At his residence in Malabar Hill How Sahay sustained 60 per cent burns The incident is still shrouded in mystery Why Reason unknown Status A senior police officer supervising the case requesting anonymity said ldquoThough the inquiry is under process prima facie it seems to be a case of accidental death If we do not come across anything substantial in the coming days the matter would be closedrdquo Case 2 Name Sanjay Banerjee 47 Designation Deputy Commissioner of Police State AntiTerrorism Squad When March 23 2013 Where At Goa Portuguesa restaurant Ghodbunder Road Thane How Banerjee shot himself with his service revolver Why Reason unknown Status Deputy Police Commissioner Zone V Balasaheb Patil said ldquoWe have come across some discrepancies in statements of witnesses Hence have asked for some clarifications from the forensic experts before we can ascertain if it was accidental or suicidal The findings will then be discussed with superior officersrdquo Sanjay Banerjeersquos wife and family mourn during his last rites in March Banerjee had shot himself in front of his family at the restaurant File Pic Case 3 Name Vinod Bhatt 54 Designation Assistant Commissioner of Police State AntiTerrorism Squad When August 28 2006 Where Between Dadar and Matunga railway station How Bhatt was run over by a suburban local train between Dadar and Matunga railway station Why Reason unknown Status Senior Police Inspector GRP Dadar said ldquoIt was an accidental deathrdquo 168 Number of police personnel who have ended their lives from 2002 to 2012u00a0