Builder's death: Suicide abetment, graft charges invoked

Nearly a week after prominent city builder Suraj Parmar killed himself, police today registered a case against unidentified persons in connection with the suicide that shocked the real estate developers here.
Criminal offences related to abetment of suicide and Prevention of Corruption Act were filed against unnamed persons, police said tonight.
Police PRO Gajanan Kabdule said the case has been registered at Kasarwadavali Police Station under whose jurisdiction Parmar shot himself on October 7.
In a 12-page suicide note found in his car, the 46-year- old realtor had cited reasons like harassment by politicians, constant demand for bribes from goverment officials and slow pace of approvals for projects, for taking the extreme step, police have said.

Parmar, Director of Cosmos Group, was also President of Thane chapter of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI).
After the incident, a delegation of builders led by Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde, MLAs Pratap Sarnaik and Mangalprabhat Lodha met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded action against those named in the suicide note.

According to reliable sources, the victim has named as many as six Thane Corporators in the suicide note, who he claimed harassed him for money from time to time. The police have sent the note for forensic examination.
Meanwhile, the local MCHI unit has called for observance of 'black day' tomorrow. Its members will take out a protest march to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters.

At a condolence meeting, the relatives and friends of Parmar demanded a probe by CBI or State CID into his death.