Britannica COO jumps to death from 19th floor in Gurgaon

A top executive of the Encyclopaedia Britannica has allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a building in Gurgaon, according to at least two news reports.

A top executive of Encyclopedia Britannica allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 19th floor of a building in DLF Phase-III Gurgaon, police said.

Vineet Whig was the chief operating officer of the South Asia division of Encylopedia Britannica. (Facebook/Vineet Whig)

Vineet Whig, the chief operating officer of the South Asia division of Encylopedia Britannica, was found dead by cleaning staff on Sunday morning inside a shaft which opens close to his 19th floor apartment at the building.

A suicide note was found in Whig’s pocket read: “I am taking my own life, no one is responsible. I am unable to cope. I am sorry. I am depressed. I see no way out except for suicide. Yes, I am a coward. I should have faced life.”

Whig lived in Block-D of DLF Belvedere Park with his wife, two sons, a daughter and his father who suffered a heart attack after receiving the news of Whig’s death.

The body was found in the ventilation shaft of Block-C by sweepers when they went to clean it at 9 AM on Sunday. They informed the society security control room which told the family and thereafter the police was informed at 9.45 AM, Singh said.

The top executive had also worked with IT giant Wipro before joining Britannica.

“CCTV footage is being examined to verify the details and ascertain the sequence of events,” Singh added.

With agency inputs