Pooja Chavan Suicide Case: Anil Deshmukh says no pressure on police

Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday said there was no pressure on the police in the probe into the alleged suicide of a woman in Pune, which the opposition BJP has been claiming has a link to a state minister Sanjay Rathod.

Speaking to reporters after being discharged from hospital post recovery from the coronavirus infection, Deshmukh said an inquiry into the incident will be conducted as per rules.

“There is no question of pressure from anyone. The chief minister has already said the inquiry will be conducted as per rules. There is no truth in the allegations made by the opposition,” the minister added.

As police in Pune probe the alleged suicide of 22-year-old Pooja Chavan, the case has become a reason for a political slugfest in Maharashtra, with the opposition demanding that the alleged role of a serving Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Rathod be investigated.

BJP leaders Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Kirit Somaiya, and others have demanded the arrest of Shiv Sena MLA and State Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod.

Pooja Chavan hailed from the temple town of Parli Vaijnath in Beed district of Maharashtra, and belonged to the nomadic tribal Banjara community. She had come to Pune to attend a spoken English course and was active on social media platforms like TikTok, where she had considerable youth following.

Chavan died by suicide in Heaven Park building in Mohammadwadi area in Pune in the early hours of February 8. According to Wanwadi police who have registered a case of accidental death, there was no suicide note. However, some social media posts claimed that she was in a relationship with Rathod.