Body Missing Since July Found at Baner Hill; Suicide Suspected Over Financial Distress
Body Missing Since July Found at Baner Hill; Suicide Suspected Over Financial Distress
Three months after a 24-year-old showroom employee went missing, Pune Police have discovered his decomposed body near a steep slope at Baner Hill. The discovery was made on Sunday afternoon, following a tip-off from a local resident.
The young man had disappeared on July 18 after leaving his residence in Baner. A missing person’s report had been filed the same day at Baner Police Station. Despite search efforts at the time — including night-time operations and sniffer dogs — he could not be traced.
On Sunday morning, a local who was out for a walk noticed the body approximately 25 metres below the hill’s cliffside and informed the authorities. Officers from Baner Police arrived at the location and recovered the remains. An identity card found in the deceased’s pocket helped confirm his identity.
Senior Police Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant, who is leading the investigation, said that a handwritten note was found at the scene. “The note appears to have been written by him and states he was ending his life because he was unable to repay a loan,” Sawant said.
However, the origin of the loan remains unclear. “At this stage, we don’t know if the loan came from a bank, money lender, or any financial service. There are no traces of any loan transactions in his bank account,” Sawant added.
Police also found a couple of small bottles near the body, suspected to contain poison. “Based on what we’ve seen so far, suicide by poisoning appears to be the likely cause, but we’re waiting for forensic confirmation,” said one officer at the scene.
The deceased’s family was informed soon after the identification, and they have since confirmed the body is that of their missing son.
Sawant further stated, “It’s a deeply tragic situation. We had searched the area back in July but unfortunately couldn’t locate him. The body was hidden from plain sight due to the terrain.”
While early signs point toward suicide, police are continuing the investigation to understand the full circumstances, especially regarding the unidentified loan and any possible external pressure.
