MPSC aspirant ends life in Pune on debt burden

A 28-year-old man preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations allegedly died by suicide in Pune, with a debt of around Rs 2.5 lakh suspected to be the reason, an official said on Wednesday.

The deceased, identified as Prathamesh Deshmukh, was a native of Paranda and was staying in a rented house in Navi Peth while preparing for MPSC exams, Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said. He was found hanging inside a room in his house in the morning, following which some residents alerted the police, he said.

Deshmukh left behind a two-page note containing details of 18-19 persons from whom he had borrowed money and the amounts he had repaid, Rawale said.

Police were questioning his family members to ascertain why he had borrowed the money and were investigating the matter, he said. The exact time of the suicide will be known after the post-mortem report is received, DCP said.

Notably, the Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating a question paper leak involving the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination held in March. MPSC aspirants recently staged protests in parts of the State, including Pune, demanding transparency in the recruitment process and action against the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations. The State Government has separately formed a high-level committee to suggest necessary improvements in the overall examination process, an official earlier said.