Mumbai: Ailing bizman jumps off Bandra-Worli Sea Link

Tikam Laxmandas Makhija

A businessman who was allegedly depressed over the past few months is missing after jumping off the Bandra-Worli Sea Link early on Monday morning. A search operation for him was still underway on Monday evening.

Khar Resident Tikam Laxmandas Makhija, 57, had met with an accident three months ago and had to undergo surgery which led to health complications. He often told his family members he didn't feel worthy of living and wanted to die.

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Around 5.30 am on Monday, a security guard at the sea link noticed through CCTV footage that a person had stopped his white car on the southbound road and was standing there, staring at the sea. The guard immediately alerted the Mumbai police control room which relayed information to the Worli police station. Meanwhile, another guard rushed to the spot on a bike. However, by the time he reached the spot Makhija had jumped off the bridge.

"As he jumped from the sea link, a team of Worli police reached the spot and alerted the Navy, Coast Guard and fire brigade about the incident. A search operation was launched soon after," DCP (Zone 3) Akbar Pathan said, adding that attempts to establish the identity were initiated in the meantime.

Makhija reached the spot in an i20 car with the registration number MH-01-DX-0308. It was registered in the name of Deepak Khubchandani. The police got in touch with Khubchandani and identified the person who jumped as his brother-in-law. "He was a resident of Khar West and was running a garment business," said an officer.

Khubchandani informed the police that Makhija had met with an accident three months ago near the Kalanagar flyover and was admitted to Hinduja hospital for eight days and underwent surgery for a head injury. "The surgery took a heavy toll on him as he was suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. He had to take sleeping pills every day," he said.

According to Khubchandani, his sister Ritu had come over to his house with Makhija on Sunday night and during a chat, she had mentioned how the latter speaks negatively all the time, often speaking of ending his "miserable life". Makhija is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

At the time of going to press, the fire brigade, Coast Guard and Navy were trying to locate Makhija. "We haven't yet succeeded in locating him or his body," said Ravindra Katkar, senior inspector, Worli police station.

5.30am
Approx time man jumped into sea