IIT-B student suicide: Statement of parents, friends recorded

Police have recorded statements of parents, friends and faculty heads of the 21-year-old student of IIT-Bombay, who had allegedly committed suicide on May 2.

According to the public relations officer at IIT-Bombay, the deceased student was struggling academically. File pic

"We have completed all the formalities related to the investigation. On the basis of statements recorded, we can say the deceased committed suicide as he showed sufficient signs of depression," an investigation officer of Powai police station said.

Jitesh Sharma, who hailed from Rohtak in Haryana, a third-year chemical engineering student, was found dead on the terrace of the hostel in campus premises of the IIT, in Powai area, and was apparently depressed with the choice of his academic course.

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All samples, including bottle of poisonous substance sodium azide which was found near the body, have been sent to forensic lab in suburban Kalina, the police official said. "It may take two to three weeks for the report to come," he added.

The official said that the deceased's parents revealed that their son had a history of depression and was undergoing treatment for last one year.

"He could not clear few of his exams in last one year and had confined himself. He had become extremely introvert," he said, adding, Sharma had written a suicide note in both Hindi and English that indicated he was under depression. "I should not have been into this field. I did a mistake by passing JEE exam. I have now learnt to be away from my parents (sic)," the officer said, quoting the suicide note.