'He was a brave man, had fighting spirit'

The home of former deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Sanjay Banerjee at Hiranandani Estate, Thane, was shrouded in gloom on Sunday, with his family unable to come to terms with the suicide, which they say there is no explanation for. Pratik Salunke and Rahul Mahajani report.

The home of former deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Sanjay Banerjee at Hiranandani Estate, Thane, was shrouded in gloom on Sunday, with his family unable to come to terms with the suicide, which they say there is no explanation for.

HT Image

"There was no problem at home. He was not having any professional issues either. He had got the posting he wanted in the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS)," said his father Anil, a retired Inspector General of Police (IGP). Sanjay, 43, had been transferred from the Nashik Police Training Institute to the ATS about eight months ago.

"I don't understand how it happened. He was a brave man and was happy with his job. ATS chief Rakesh Maria was like an elder brother to my son," Anil added. "My grandson told me about the incident when I was in Pune."

Visibly-shaken, Anil also said his son did not pull the trigger on account of not having received his salary for eight-nine months. "This cannot be the reason."

Visitors thronged the flat at Omkar building in which the Banerjee family lived. A stream of mourners, including several high-ranking police officers and their relatives came to offer condolences to his family through the morning. His elder son, a 14-year-old, had recently come home from his Panchgani boarding school, stood poised, occasionally attending to the guests.