BENGALURU: A video circulating on WhatsApp on Thursday morning showed a youth standing on the fourth floor of an under-construction building. The video went dark as the youth moved to the edge. The video raised questions about who the youth was, what he was doing, and where it was shot. It took a while for news to trickle in that he had jumped off the building and died.

Rajesh Choudhary, 27, a resident of Ramamurthy Nagar, was a software professional with an IT major. He jumped to his death from the building in Singasandra, southeast Bengaluru. Quoting relatives, police said Rajesh was depressed and had shown suicidal tendencies.

Ninety minutes of drama preceded the jump as Rajesh, who hailed from UP, ignored appeals not to do anything drastic.

In the morning, Rajesh reportedly met a few relatives residing near Kudlu Gate and told them he wanted to jump under the wheels of a speeding truck or train. Angered by their plea not to do so, he walked out in a huff.

On his way home, Rajesh entered the under-construction building and went to the fourth floor. Labourers at the site noticed him and realized he was out to do something desperate. They gathered below and pleaded with him not to jump. Rajesh reportedly yelled he would jump if anyone went near him. Summoned to the spot, police alerted the fire brigade.

“Two fire brigade personnel entered the building from the rear and ran up the stairs. But by the time they reached the top, he had jumped,” a senior police officer said. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Doctors declared him brought dead.

Rajesh’s parents said he was under depression for two years, but refused to undergo treatment. He shifted to Bengaluru one and a half years ago.

Electronics City police booked a case of unnatural death, and said they are trying to track down who had shot the WhatsApp video.

The five-floor apartment was being constructed by Prasad.

High drama

7.30am: Rajesh visits a relative’s house in Whitefield; says he wants to commit suicide

8am: Enters under-construction building in Singasandra

8.15am: Police arrive at the spot

8.50am: Fire brigade gets a call, rushes a rescue van

9.30 am: Rajesh jumps off, is rushed to hospital, where he is declared brought dead.

