Out of jail but BJP MLA to be grilled over youth suicide

“Something happened between Dharmesh Zariwalla and the accused on the night of April 9, which led to his suicide the next day.’&#1...

“Something happened between Dharmesh Zariwalla and the accused on the night of April 9, which led to his suicide the next day.’’

Said Additional Public Prosecutor R.V. Kini in the sessions court on Wednesday, arguing that BJP MLA Hemendra Mehta be kept in custody. Mehta, his brother Bansi, and four associates are charged with abetting the suicide of Zariwalla, a 25-year-old software professional, on April 10.

Judge P.S. Paranajpe granted anticipatory bail to the six but ordered them to undergo questioning at the Malad police station every day for two weeks from April 23 to May 3. They are excused on April 25 and 26 because of the Lok Sabha polls.

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Kini supported the claim with a copy of Zariwalla’s suicide note and the statement of a witness, whose identity is being witheld.

On April 10, Zariwalla was found hanging in his Malad home. His suicide note accused Hemendra Mehta, a BJP MLA from Borivli, of forcing him to kill himself through ‘‘mental torture and threats of violence’’. Zariwalla’s mother, Surekha, alleges that Mehta demanded sexual favours from her in May 1998 and that her refusal turned his wrath on the family.

‘‘The police need to find out about it and that can be done only through interrogations in custody,’’ said Kini. Arguing against their bail applications, Kini said the accused, being influential people, could abuse bail to ‘‘pressurise witnesses and tamper with evidence’’. He said the Zariwallas are being forced to withdraw the case.

But defence counsel Niteen Pradhan said there was no evidence to show that the accused ‘‘abetted or instigated’’ the suicide. His request against Mehta’s arrest, however, was refused.