06 November,2014 08:29 AM IST | | Chaitraly Deshmukh
With the suicide case throwing up prominent names, the police are now approaching investigations cautiously, in order to avoid any controversies
Ajay Chordia
The police are now treading cautiously while investigating the suicide case of Pune-based hotelier and businessman, Ajay Chordia (in pic). With the case throwing up prominent names, the cops want to avoid any controversy, and have now begun recording the Chordia family's statements on camera.
Ajay Chordia
More than a week has passed since Chordia, the group chairman of Panchshil Hotels, was found hanging on the 11th floor of the hotel DoubleTree by Hilton on October 27. While Chordia himself hails from a prominent business family with strong political connections as well, another big name came to be associated with the suicide case when cops discovered Chordia's suicide note.
They had recovered a one-page suicide note in English from his trouser pocket, in which he named an Ashish Sharma for driving him to suicide. The note mentioned that this Sharma had ruined his life and had forced him to cough up Rs 5 crore and a flat in Baner as well. Certain sections of the media then quoted the name of former commissioner of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Ashish Sharma, in connection to the case. However, Sharma later issued a clarification, denying any business or property deal with Chordia or any involvement in his suicide.
The Pimpri Police are currently investigating the incident and have registered a case of accidental death in their station diary. But with such heavyweights involved in the case, cops want to ensure that any controversy is kept at bay.
"Big names are involved in this case and we are being extra careful during investigations. Under the guidance of DCP and ACP rank officials, on-camera statements are being recorded of Chordia's relatives. We don't want any controversy in this case, nor will we give any chance for anyone to retract their statements," said a senior officer.
So far, the statements of Chordia's son (Prateek) and brother (Atul) have been recorded, but the senior officer is not satisfied with the statements. Chordia's wife is unwell and her statement is yet to be recorded.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Rajendra Mane said, "The process of recording the statements of relatives and family members is going on. We have not drawn any conclusions yet." DCP Mane refused to divulge any further details.
However, another senior officer revealed, "After going through Chordia's mobile, emails and details of business deals, it has emerged that there are three different persons with the name Ashish Sharma. Another team of policemen are questioning Chordia's business team, including the Chartered Accountant, to gain information about Sharma and their past deals.
However, no person with that name has been interrogated yet. We are first trying to gain information from the family members and collect some evidence pertaining to the person named Sharma."
