A State Agriculture Department official’s plea for a half-day leave to attend to his depressed son was turned down by his superior, following which the boy allegedly committed suicide. The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry.

On August 12, department Joint Secretary Rajesh Ghadge got a panic call from his son, who was suffering from depression, asking him to come home in Navi Mumbai, failing which he would end his life. Ghadge requested Additional Chief Secretary Bhagwan Sahay to let him go home. But Mr. Sahay turned down his requests and made him work till regular office hours. — PTI