Mohali bizman ends his life at Red Bishop Hotel

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 23

A 75-year-old resident of Mohali, Gurkirpal Singh, owner of Chawla petrol stations in the tricity, reportedly committed suicide last evening by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at Red Bishop Hotel in Sector 1 here.

The matter came to light after he stopped responding to calls from his driver accompanying him, who eventually had to break the door to enter his room.

The hotel staff said he was staying in room number 2 and checked in the hotel around 7.40 pm and paid the accommodation amount through a credit card.

The police claimed a suicide note was recovered from the spot in which the victim alleged harassment at the hands of senior officials of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and stated that he was suffering losses in his business due to them.

Sub-Inspector Rakesh Kumar, in-charge of the Sector 7 police post, said, “He ended his life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan though the actual reason of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem. Family members told us he was depressed over financial woes. Our investigation into the matter is on."

Ram Niwas, the receptionist at the hotel, said, “The driver was constantly receiving calls from the victim’s family members, who wanted to know his whereabouts. The restlessness was apparent on the driver’s face. Suddenly, he went to check up on him. He knocked at the door, but the victim didn’t respond.

A worried driver came to the reception and narrated the ordeal.

“We tried to contact the victim through intercom, but again met with no response. I informed my in-charge (manager). We informed the police. However, the driver couldn’t wait for the police to arrive. He broke open the door and found the victim’s body hanging from a ceiling fan,” he said.

The body was handed over to the family after the autopsy at the Civil Hospital in Sector 6.

A case under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC was registered in the matter and an investigation is on.

Had sought ‘nod for suicide’ in September last

The Mohali-based businessman had, in September last year, written to the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator seeking “permission to commit suicide” as he had suffered losses due to disparity in the fuel prices in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. He had said the successive reduction in VAT by the Chandigarh Administration had resulted in the loss of 80 per cent of his business. In this regard, he had also sent a complaint against the UT Administration to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana, Punjab Chief Minister and other important functionaries of the central and state governments.

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