Hubballi: Wife of Suicide Victim Alleges Police Harassment, Submits Death Note

Hubballi: The wife of a man who allegedly died by suicide due to police harassment has submitted her husband’s death note to the Old Hubballi police on Saturday.

In her written complaint, Pooja Mahantesh Kalal (Parandekar) stated that her husband, Mahantesh Kalal, took his own life following severe mistreatment by the Sub Urban police. She previously filed a memorandum on November 23, alleging that police harassment drove him to the tragic act.

According to Pooja, her husband was taken in for questioning by the Sub Urban police on October 1 and again on October 16, without informing the family. During the second instance, the police allegedly kept him at Brindavan Lodge for six days, where they forced him to consume alcohol and coerced him into confessing to stealing motorcycles. When the family approached the Old Hubballi police station to file a complaint about this illegal detention, the officers reportedly refused to register it.

Pooja further claimed that her husband was subjected to physical torture, including being assaulted and kicked by the Sub Urban police. He was produced before the court, and the family secured his bail. However, the harassment did not stop, she claimed.

She also alleged that police officers continued visiting their home, demanding a ₹50,000 bribe over accusations of stealing a police bike.

Frustrated and humiliated, Mahantesh attempted suicide on November 19 and succumbed to his injuries on November 22.

Pooja said she discovered her husband’s death note while cleaning the house in preparation for the 13th-day rituals.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mahaning Nandaganvi told a media that the Old Hubballi police have registered a case of unnatural death. “The death note will be added to the case, and the investigation is going on,” he stated.