70-year-old cabbie jumps to death

Virpal Singh, jumped off the fifth floor of the hostel, leaving behind a suicide note accusing private taxi firm Meru of not paying him the money he was promised after he sold his taxi driver’s permit to them.

A 70-year-old taxi driver committed suicide at Colaba on Tuesday morning. Virpal Singh, who lived in the Young Men’s Christian Association hostel at Colaba, jumped off the fifth floor of the hostel, leaving behind a suicide note accusing private taxi firm Meru of not paying him the money he was promised after he sold his taxi driver’s permit to them.

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Colaba police said Singh was divorced and had been living there since the last 30 years. “Singh, an old resident of the hostel, jumped off the balcony at 6.30 am. He left a suicide note saying Meru had promised him Rs 2 lakh for his driver’s permit, which he had sold to them legally. He has claimed Meru forced him to end his life,” said A.K. Ingale, senior police inspector at Colaba police station.

“The note also says the amount he is due should be handed over to his brother who lives in Chandigarh,” Ingale added. Colaba police have registered it as accidental death and booked Meru authorities for abetment of suicide.

“We have booked the company on the basis of the suicide not which is enough proof. On questioning, representatives from Meru have told us they are processing the money that was due to Singh. We will now find out who is responsible for not paying Singh and who should be arrested,” said Ingale.

Meru authorities denied knowing about the suicide. “No such incident has been reported to us. However, we will look into it if the police approach us,” a Meru spokesperson said.