Marathi film producer found dead in temple; suicide note blames two

A film producer, who was a close associate of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, was found dead in a temple on Wednesday morning.

According to the DB Marg police, Sadanand Lad (58) used to stay with his family at Gaiwadi in Girgaum, and would visit a Ganesh temple run by his family every day, where he would spend most of his time.

The police said they received a call from the priest around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The priest, Ravi Mishra, was the first to find Lad’s body. “Lad came to the temple in the morning to perform puja with me. We ate breakfast together, after which he read a newspaper, and told us that he was going to the first floor to take a nap. An hour later, I went to the first floor to get something and found him dead,” Mr. Mishra told The Hindu .

Savala Fale, a helper with the temple, said, “Mr. Mishra called out to me and I ran to see what was wrong. We were both terrified. We called up his son, and then the police after he got here.”

Lad was taken to J.J. Hospital in Byculla, where he was declared dead before admission. His body was sent for post-mortem.

The police said the incident prima facie looks like a suicide. “We have taken statements from the priest and family members. We have learnt that Lad would visit the temple regularly and spend much of his time there. Inquiries are under way,” police sub-inspector Anil Kamble, D.B. Marg police station, said.

Dyaneshwar Chavan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone II, said Lad had left a suicide note, blaming two people for his extreme step. On Wednesday evening, Lad’s son, Ankur, registered an FIR at D.B. Marg police station.

“Lad has said in the suicide note that he was taking the step as he was fed up of the constant harassment by builder Siddharth Group and Tahir bhai. We have registered an FIR of abetment to suicide under the Indian Penal Code,” Mr. Chavan said.

Meanwhile, Lad’s family members said he had not displayed any unusual behaviour in the last few days. His relatives remember him as a father figure who they would turn to for advice.

“We could not believe it when we heard about his passing in the afternoon. He was a caring person. He would always be there for whoever needed him and was a happy-go-lucky person. His extreme step has taken us all aback,” Udesh Kasarkar, Lad’s son-in-law, said.

Mr. Kasarkar said Lad was a close friend of Mr. Bhujbal and had produced over 13 Marathi films including Supari , Swami, and Baap Manus .