Lecturer, wife commit suicide, daughter, 9, escapes just in time

Sankalp Anand has left a suicide note, accusing several people, including three seniors at his institute, of corruption to the tune of over Rs 250 crore.

Mathura police said preliminary investigation suggests the couple ended their lives as part of a suicide pact.

The couple, police said, also wanted their daughter killed by the speeding Delhi-Agra Intercity Express, but eyewitnesses said Riddhima “moved away from the tracks” just before the train arrived.

“Witnesses told us the couple parked their car close to the tracks near Hotel Country Inn at Kosi Kalan, despite repeated warnings from bystanders. They lay down on opposite sides of the track with their daughter in the middle, but she moved away when the train approached. Anand’s wallet, identification papers and the 11-page suicide note were found in the car,” a senior police officer said.

The family of the couple said they were not aware of any problem the couple was facing and said they came to know of the deaths when Sankalp’s mother called on his phone in the morning.

“A policeman picked up the phone and informed her of the incident. We did not know that they were facing problems. So far, we have been busy with the last rites and have not filed a complaint. Police have contacted us, asking if we want to take the case further, but we have asked for some time. The family is in shock now. Riddhima’s future is most important for us. She is staying with her grandparents at their home in Sukhdev Vihar,” a relative said.

Santosh Anand said the allegations made by his son in the suicide note, accusing several people of harassment and corruption, must be probed. “We will seek a CBI probe,” he said.

SSP (Mathura) Manzil Saini said, “The family has not so far filed a complaint. They have asked us for time till October 19, to complete the last rites. A team is going to Delhi to inquire about the allegations. We also have to collect handwriting samples to match with the note.”

Reasons for the suicide

# Anand accused three officials and 20 others at the institute of corruption

#  He alleged that they were involved in a construction scam, for which Rs 250 crore was allegedly allotted

#  the money he received for this “scheme” was siphoned off by them, he wrote

# He further claimed that the three were also involved in a fake job racket

# In the note he also accused 10 others of harassing him for money — ranging from Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 3 crore — that he collected for the institute

# Because of pressure inflicted on him “by his own wrongdoings and that of others he and his wife decided to end their lives