‘Former corporate honcho who committed suicide in Mumbai was tired of fighting case for 16 years’

Mumbai city news: Pendse was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his office on the ground floor of Royal Grace building in Dadar (East) on Wednesday

Former Tata Finance chief Dilip Pendse may have killed himself as he was “depressed about fighting a court case for 16 years to prove he had no role in the alleged irregularities” in the company over which he was removed in 2011, said his lawyer.

Pendse was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his office on the ground floor of Royal Grace building in Dadar (East) on Wednesday.

Pendse’s lawyer HH Nagi said he knew the former corporate honcho for 35 years.

“He was fighting the court case, but was lately depressed. The Mumbai police dropped charges against him, but the CBI continued with the case. The police didn’t show us the suicide note. They only told us he has not blamed anyone for the suicide,” said Nagi.

The Matunga police have registered a case of accidental death.

According to police, Pendse went to his office in the morning, but did not return home, which was on the first floor of the same building, for lunch. “He was found hanging around 2.30pm,” said the officer. “Pendse’s children are abroad. He lived with his wife.”

The body was sent to Sion hospital for post-mortem.

The police said in his suicide note Pendse apologised to his wife. “The note says he was going through personal problems and nobody should be held responsible for the death. We will record their statements later,” said Balasaheb Kakad, senior inspector, Matunga police station.