R K Sahaya
Condition Worsened Since Tue
Ranjit
Kumar Sahay (52), additional director-general of police, succumbed to
complications arising out of burn injuries on Thursday. He was being
treated at Bombay Hospital where he was rushed on September 15 with 55%
burns.
Around 7.15am on Thursday, Sahay had a cardiac arrest and
was declared dead at 8.30am after efforts to resuscitate him failed. An
IPS officer of the 1986 batch, Sahay remained on ventilator from the
time he was admitted. As he never regained consciousness, investigators
couldn’t speak to him to conclude if the incident was a suicide attempt
or an accident. Plastic surgeon Dr Vinay Jacob said his condition
worsened since Tuesday after his renal functions stopped. Thereafter,
his organs failed one after another. The swelling in the brain never
subsided. He had sustained maximum burns on the scalp, face, hands and
chest, fuelling rumours of a suicide attempt. He was treated by experts
from 10 specialties, including plastic surgery, neurology and nephrology
among others.
The incident took place at his official residence
in Avanti Chambers, at Malabar Hill. When he was admitted to hospital,
Sahay told doctors he was performing Ganeshotsav pooja when his leg
inadvertently hit a petrol bottle and an oil lamp fell on him, causing
the fire. His wife, Ralu, an advocate, along with senior IPS officers
Surendra Kumar and K L Bishnoi, had rushed him to hospital.
Some
IPS officers suspect the incident could have been a suicide attempt,
but few were willing to hazard a guess on the possible trigger. “There
is talk that he was not on good terms with his boss,” said a senior IPS
officer. Sahay was in the news when
he recently submitted an inquiry report detailing alleged
irregularities in the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation
(MSRTC) during the tenure of its former chief, Deepak Kapoor, an IAS
officer of the 1991 batch. It is learnt that for several months, Sahay
met senior officials and a few politicians. “We don’t know the nature of
these meetings,” said the officer. There were also reports that the
suicide attempt followed after an argument at home.
“Sahay’s
elder brothers — Sujit, Dr Ajit and Vijay — have come to the city along
with their brother in-law, Arun Kumar Sinha, an IPS officer. They have
gone to JJ Hospital where the post-mortem was completed,” said Krishna
Prakash, additional commissioner of police, south region. “We are taking
this case as an accident and not an attempted suicide. We are going by Sahay’s version.” However, the cause of death was reserved till further tests.
Sahay
will be cremated with state honours at 10am on Friday at Banganga in
Malabar Hills. “The state police has sanctioned Rs 15 lakh (from the
cashless scheme for cops) towards his hospital bills,” said a police
officer.
(With inputs from Sumitra Deb Roy)
SUICIDE, ACCIDENT?
RANJIT
KUMAR SAHAY was a 1986 batch IPS officer. He was empaneled in February
by the cabinet appointment committee, possible only if there are no
adverse remarks against an officer
Sept 15
At 12.10am, Sahay’s wife and daughter found him engulfed in flames. Panicked, they called neighbors and rushed Sahay to Bombay Hospital. He was admitted to the ICU at around 12.40am
Sept 20
Malabar Hill police searched Sahay’s Worli office for documents, to probe whether developments at his workplace were related to the reported suicide bid
Sept 25
Police recorded the statement of Sahay’s wife Ralu, who said it was an accident. They also recorded statements of IPS officers Surendra Kumar and K L Bishnoi who had helped rush Sahay to the hospital
Oct 1
Sahay’s health began to deteriorate, renal functions stopped
Oct 3
He didn’t survive a cardiac arrest and was declared dead at 8.30am
Oct 4
Sahay will be cremated at 10am at Banganga near with state honours
HIS VERSION | Sahay
had told doctors when still conscious, while being taken to the ICU on
September 15, that he was busy in pooja when his leg hit a petrol bottle
in the room and a diya fell on him, causing the fire
THEORIES AROUND HIS DEATH
PROFESSIONAL GROUSES
Sahay
pointed out irregularties in the MSRTC. He was recently promoted and
transferred from MSRTC to the state police housing board
Sahay
had filed a complaint with the anti-corruption bureau about his boss in
the MSRTC, Deepak Kapoor, who was then its managing director Unconfirmed
reports say Sahay complained about Pravin Dixit, his boss in the
housing board. He reportedly said that a housing tender was given to a
blacklisted developer
He had earlier told the DGP that IPS officers
should not be posted under junior IAS officers. He was reportedly upset
at having to report to Kapoor and Dixit, both of whom were nearly a
decade junior to him
PERSONAL TROUBLES | Sahay was said to be short-tempered, and would often have arguments with his wife
IN HOSPITAL Admitted with 55% burns on the face, scalp, neck, abdomen and upper limbs
Extensive burns in the respiratory tract led to breathing difficulties
He was breathing with the help of a ventilator since he was admitted to hospital
Kidney functions stopped since Tuesday, which led to the failure of all organs
He suffered a cardiac arrest early on Thursday morning and couldn’t be revived by doctors
A post-mortem was done but the cause of death was reserved till further tests
The Times of India, October 4, 2013
