Central Excise Superintendent, Ravindra aka Ravi S. Phadke (45), committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his house at about 8.15 am on Thursday. At the time, his wife Archana (43) was present in the house while his 20-year-old son, Raj, had gone to college.
Police has registered an accidental death report in the case while further investigation is on. Malad police station officials said a suicide note was recovered from Phadke’s shirt pocket which read: “I am fed up of my life, and committing suicide. Nobody is responsible for my suicide.”
Phadke was posted on deputation as a Superintendent at the Parel office of Excise and Customs.
He had also worked in DRI on deputation and was staying in a two BHK flat in Rishav Cooperative Housing Society Ltd., Jagmagiya Apartment, Malad west with his wife and son for the past 25 years.
At the time of the incident, Phadke’s son had left for his engineering college in Mahim and his wife was in the kitchen, preparing his lunch box while Mr Phadke was alone in their bedroom. Suddenly, Ms Archana heard a sound (gunshot) and rushed to the bedroom, only to find her husband lying there in a pool of blood. She immediately called their neighbours and Mr Phadke was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital but he died there. Police sources said the pistol with which he shot himself was purchased in 2013 for his shooting interests.
A day before he committed suicide, he celebrated the 75th birthday of his father-in-law at a hotel in Malad and on Thursday, he returned from walking their dog in the morning, informed their neighbour who did not wish to be named. Police sources said Phadke was upset over the death of his mother who succumbed to diabetes 18 months ago. An official on condition of anonymity told The Asian Age that the possibility of Phadke being harassed by seniors could not be ruled out and so, investigation was underway in all directions.
