Family denies police naik had personal problems

Family members of Sarjerao Jadhav (40), the police naik who allegedly shot himself with a Self Loading Rifle (SLR) in the ONGC compound on Thursday, have categorically denied that he was under any pressure in his personal life.

Family members of Sarjerao Jadhav (40), the police naik who allegedly shot himself with a Self Loading Rifle (SLR) in the ONGC compound on Thursday, have categorically denied that he was under any pressure in his personal life.

HT Image

Family members added that Jadhav, attached to Dharavi police station, had cooked a meal and invited relatives over a day before the incident. They are trying to find out if he was facing pressure at work.

Jadhav, who was living at Chembur along with his parents, wife, two daughters aged 17 and 16 and a 12-year-old son, was on sick leave for a fortnight and had resumed work on Thursday night.

He allegedly shot himself at 8.30 pm while on shift, in front of another constable and three private security guards.

“ We are sure that there was no trouble in his personal life. We had planned a family pilgrimage to Pandharpur next month and he had asked me to apply for leave,” said family member, requesting anonymity.

Hemant Patil, senior police inspector, said, “We have recorded Jadhav’s wife’s statement. She is clueless about the incident. We are trying to find out if the gun went off by mistake.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Central Region), Vineet Agarwal said: “It appears to be a case of attempted suicide. Things will be clear once Jadhav regains consciousness.”

Jadhav who is recovering at Sion hospital, is responding well to treatment and should be out of danger soon.

He is expected to be shifted to Bombay Hospital on Saturday evening.