Team Herald
MARGAO: The passing of respected Margao lawyer, advocate Jayant Prabhu, by suicide had sent shock waves not just in the legal fraternity, but also in Margao as well as in the State.
The police have registered an FIR against Lady Police Sub-Inspector (LPSI) Anoushka Parab of the Margao Police Station, in connection with the suicide. Adv Prabhu, 71, was found dead at his home in Baga-Davorlim, on Thursday morning.
An offence was registered late night under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with abetment to suicide.
The decision to file the FIR comes after mounting pressure from the legal fraternity, who were deeply disturbed by the advocate’s death.
According to the suicide note left by Prabhu, he blamed LPSI Parab for his decision to end his life, citing her rude behaviour during an investigation she was conducting. The investigation was related to a sexual harassment case filed by a female advocate against Prabhu’s elder son Pritesh, who is also an advocate.
Prabhu’s younger son, Ashish Prabhu, also an advocate, lodged a complaint with the Maina-Curtorim Police, alleging that LPSI Parab, along with 4-5 constables, visited their house late at night on August 28, searching for his elder brother, Pritesh Prabhu.
Despite being informed that Pritesh was undergoing treatment at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) in Bambolim, Parab allegedly insisted on searching the house. Ashish claimed that the LPSI was armed with a pistol and used threatening language, causing fear and distress in the family, which contributed to his father’s suicide.
In response to the complaint, a group of agitated lawyers from Margao gathered at the office of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Santosh Dessai, demanding that an FIR be registered against the LPSI. After several rounds of discussions, DySP Dessai assured the lawyers that the FIR would be filed.
Late on the night of August 29, the police confirmed that an FIR was being registered against the police personnel named in the suicide note.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer indicated that a report on the incident might be sent to higher authorities in Panjim, and did not rule out the possibility of suspending the LPSI.
The police have already registered an unnatural death case under Section 194 of the BNS. The body of the deceased has been preserved at the South Goa District Hospital Morgue, and further investigation is ongoing under the supervision of PSI Praful P Giri of Maina Curtorim Police Station.
“Police will investigate the allegations against the lady PSI and constables mentioned in the suicide note left by advocate Jayant Prabhu. The case has been registered in the matter. We will check if harassment has really occurred,” said DySP Dessai.