Bizman’s suicide: Family claims he was depressed

The family of the 67-year-old owner of a flour factory, who shot himself in his Nariman Point office on Thursday, claims he might have taken the extreme step because he was depressed.

The family of the 67-year-old owner of a flour factory, who shot himself in his Nariman Point office on Thursday, claims he might have taken the extreme step because he was depressed.

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But the police suspect that Siraj Jafferali Hamid had financial problems.

Hamid’s son told the police that he was suffering from asthma, brain strokes and blood pressure problems due to which he was depressed.

But the police said Hamid had failed to repay a loan he had taken from the Bombay Mercantile Bank at Byculla 25 years ago. The bank had filed a suit against his firm Sayadri Ruler Flour Mills at Khopoli.

Eight months ago, Hamid retired and handed over the business to his sons.

The police are trying to find out the total amount taken from the bank and whether financial problems had forced him to take such a drastic step.

“We are recording the statements of Hamid’s employees and business associates,” said Police Inspector Vilas Bhole of the Cuffe Parade police station.

According to the police, Hamid went to his office while his sons were at the Ballard Pier court. He allegedly shot himself with a .32 bore licenced revolver in the bathroom.

Hamid’s son Nazim (38) said he received a call from his father’s secretary who saw a stream of blood seeping out of the bathroom door.

Nazim and his brother Sahil (37) reached the office and broke open the door to find Hamid dead. The police found 18 cartridges in a drawer in Hamid’s cabin. The revolver belonged to Nazim.

Hamid is survived by his two wives and four children.