Crime branch to take over Karan Joseph’s suicide

Mumbai: The investigation into the twenty-nine-year-old pianist Karan Joseph’s suicide has been transferred to the Crime Branch on Wednesday, confirmed a senior police officer attached to the Bandra police station. The move comes after Joseph’s kin alleging that the probe into the matter was not adequately looked up for his friend, Rishi Shah’s role.

Karan Joseph, a Bangalore-based pianist had moved to the city last month and had allegedly committed suicide by leaping off from the 12th floor window of Shah’s flat at Concorde in Bandra West on September 16. Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar transferred the case to Crime Branch Unit 5 on Wednesday morning, which will now restart the probe and investigate the case afresh with an open mind from different angles and check for missed clues.

Pandit Nivrutti Thackeray, senior police inspector, Bandra police station said, “The case has been transferred to the crime branch, and we have handed over whatever proof or list of suspects we had. Joseph’s phone too has been handed over to the crime branch officials, which has the messages and the call list which can shed some insight into the reason behind Joseph’s drastic step.”

The Bandra police has so far quizzed two of Joseph’s friends, as they were a part of the crowd he was last seen hanging out with. Meanwhile, there have been constant claims by Joseph’s parents that Shah had a major role to play behind their son’s alleged suicide. Joseph’s father has also filed a case of abetment to suicide, allegedly hinting at Shah.