A 73-year-old priest of a temple, who was on bail in a rape case, allegedly committed suicide today by hanging himself from the ceiling hook of his room in the premises of the temple in Rajkot city, police said.
The deceased priest, identified as Magandas Nimavat, was found handing with rope tied to the ceiling hook of his room in the premises of the Hanuman temple in Raiya Dhar area, the official said.
The incident came to light when a devotee went to meet Nimavat in the morning hours, he said.
Nimavat was accused of raping a 30-year-old woman around two years back, following which he was arrested. He had been out on bail since last four months, he said.
"Nimavat apparently ended his life by hanging himself from the ceiling (hook) of the room in the temple premises. A suicide note was recovered from the spot," said university police station sub-inspector P A Gohil.
Nimavat purportedly wrote in the suicide note that he was innocent and that the complaint of rape was filed against him by the woman's husband with an intention to defame him and extort money, the official said.
"The woman's husband has been demanding Rs 25 lakh to settle the case ever since I was released on bail. Since I do not have money, I have decided to end my life," the officer said quoting the note.
He said police are verifying the content of the note and further investigation is underway.
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