Accused of rape, NGO head jumps to death in Delhi

A 55-year-old man jumped to his death in the posh south Delhi locality of Vasant Kunj on Wednesday, hours after he was accused of sedating and sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman on national television. Ishita Bhatia and Soumya Pillai report.

A 55-year-old man jumped to his death in the posh south Delhi locality of Vasant Kunj on Wednesday, hours after he was accused of sedating and sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman.

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The deceased, identified as Khurshid Anwar, worked as an executive director at an NGO called the Institute for Social Justice and was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman — who had taken an active part in the protests following the December 16 gang rape last year — on Tuesday evening.

According to police sources, Anwar allegedly jumped to death from his third floor terrace on Wednesday morning.

A case under charges of rape (Section 376) and causing hurt (Section 328) had been lodged at the Vasant Kunj (North) police station against him on the basis of a complaint filed by the victim with the National Commission for Women.

“A three-page document was recovered from his apartment - which has not been confirmed to be a suicide note pending investigations — mentioning the names of two news channels as having abetted his suicide,” a senior police officer said.

Anwar was discovered in a pool of blood around 10:30 am and, according to neighbours, lay unattended for at least half an hour till a police team and ambulance reached the spot.

A woman who was ironing clothes nearby and a labourer painting the building were reportedly present at the spot when the incident took place.

“I came running after I heard a loud noise of what seemed like a brick thrown on a tin sheet. When I reached the spot, Anwar was lying in a pool of blood. I wanted to help but was stopped by others, fearing police harassment,” a house maid working in the locality who did not wish to be named said.

Anwar used to live alone in his two-bedroom apartment after having separated from his wife, who is a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The body was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre for post-mortem.