The deceased, identified as Ram Dayal Verma, a native of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh especially came to Delhi to take the extreme step as he wanted his suicide to be highlighted.
According to the police, they received a PCR call at around 7 am that body of a man has been found hanging from a tree at Vijay Chowk near media parking close to Parliament.
After taking down the body, we searched to establish his identity and found a 23-page suicide note in which he had mentioned about the huge financial losses which he had incurred in gambling and betting.
“We have started investigation in the case. We have informed his family who are on their way to Delhi,” said Jatin Narwal, DCP (New Delhi).
According to a senior police officer, privy to the investigation, Verma had mentioned the names of some of the gamblers to whom he had to pay back money. The officer said: “The man has mentioned several names and the money he owed to these people. At one place, he has written that he owed someone Rs 13 crore while at another place, he wrote that he owed Rs 5 lakh. We are verifying the amount which he owed to the people. We will question these people, Haseen Kabadi, Pappu, Nisar Ansari, Manoj, Babloo and Jugal Bansal. However, he had clearly mentioned that no one is responsible for his death. We are waiting for his family to arrive so that their version is recorded since it is crucial in the matter.”
Verma was a porter and lived with his wife, two sons and two daughters. A day before, he was sitting at his home in Shivpuri. On hearing the news of his suicide, his family was shocked. In a telephonic conversation with Millennium Post, Verma’s son, Bittu said: “My father got calls from several people asking for money. Due to this, he was always stressed. We all asked him to stop betting and focus on work but it was too late. He became addicted. When my sisters tried to explain that we all will work hard to earn money, he adamantly replied that through betting he will earn money which will change our lives. Well this definitely changed our lives.”
On a train to Delhi, Verma’s family will reach late at night after which his body will be handed over to them. Meanwhile, police have initiated Inquest Proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC at the Parliament Street police station. Further investigation is on.