Mumbai: Did boycott drive ace art director Nitin Desai into bankruptcy?

Renowned art director Nitin Desai was found dead at his ND Studio in Karjat on Wednesday morning. According to the police, Desai hanged himself early in the day. Police sources said he has left a voice note in a recorder in which he has mentioned the names of few people. The Khalapur cops have filed an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in connection with the incident. Recently, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had allowed insolvency process against ND Studio as Desai failed to repay a loan Rs 252 crore (principal Rs 181-cr).

Desai, 58, is known for his sets in films and television serials. On Tuesday around 9 pm Desai called his Man Friday Yogesh Thakur, and told that he had gone to Delhi and was to return to the studio but he shouldn't tell anyone about his return. He also asked him to make sure nobody should come near Bungalow number 2 where he would be staying at night. He also told him he has recorded something on his voice recorder which Thakur should take on his mobile phone and send to his sister via WhatsApp.

The police at Nitin Desai's ND Studio at Karjat on Wednesday. Nitin Desai was known for his sets for movies such as Jodhaa Akbar, Lagaan and the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati

Like every day at 6.30 am next day Thakur went to Desai's bungalow to start the geyser and wake him up but he wasn't there. The police said he then walked towards the floor (part of the studio) and saw from a distance what appeared to be Desai standing there. "It was pitch dark so Thakur went back and waited for an hour. When he went at 7.30 am he saw Desai still standing, but Thakur remembered his message of the voice recorder, so he went to the office and played the clip. When he heard "Lalbaugchya Rajala mazha shevtacha namaskar," (My last namaskar to Lalbaugcha Raja) he rushed to the floor," said a source.

When Thakur saw Desai still standing, he switched on his mobile flashlight and saw that he was hanging by a rope. He immediately called security personnel and his friend Mayur Thombre.

Ashutosh Gowarikar and his wife arrive at ND Studio on Wednesday

"Yogesh called me and sounded terrified. He said ‘dada ne floor var suicide kela' (dada committed suicide on the floor). I called 3 of my friends and we rushed to the floor. Meanwhile some workers living inside the studio also had gathered. There was a big bow and arrow structure made up of rope there and at a joint in it Desai had hanged himself," Thombre said.

"We asked the workers whether they created the bow and arrow and they said no, there was no shoot going on there. The set was used for a reality show ‘Marathi Paool Padte Pudhe' which was aired in 2011," he added.

Mayur Thombre, a local

‘Put up rope himself'

According to the statements of workers at the studio, Desai had put up the rope by which he hanged himself, two months ago. When a worker asked him the reason for the rope, he reportedly said it's according to vastushastra. He had also told some of his close associates, "I have started my journey here and will finish it here." Many of the locals tried to cheer him up but he would just smile and say, "Baghu ya (let's see)."

Thombre and his friends called Khalapur police who arrived within 30 minutes. A doctor checked Desai and pronounced him dead. Desai's family members were informed by the cops. Forensic Science Laboratory experts including a team of biologists and a cyber forensic team were called. A dog squad was also brought.

An ambulance ferries Desai's body from the studio

The body was sent to JJ Hospital where an expert panel of 5 doctors carried out the post mortem on Wednesday night. Desai had said in the voice recorder that his last rites should be performed at a helipad in the studio.

Police speak

"We have videotaped the incident spot and forensic teams, a dog squad and finger print experts were called. We have also seized one electronic device which will be analysed by forensic experts. We have registered an ADR in connection with the incident," said Somnath Gharge, SP, Raigad.

He was targeted

"He was disturbed and in depression. There is a group which targeted him and boycotted his studio. He had told me many times about this, the cops should investigate this angle as well," said Jitendra Patil, an MNS leader from Raigad.

The insolvency process against ND Studio

Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited had gone to the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai against Nitin Desai's ND's Art World Private Limited. The petition was originally filed by CFM Asset Reconstruction Private Limited for initiating Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against ND Art for unresolved financial debt of R203,69,91,750/- under the First Loan Agreement and R48,78,79,562/- under the Second Loan Agreement. Thus, totalling an amount of R2,52,48,71,926.