mumbai

Updated: Feb 08, 2018 23:13 IST

Chembur resident and murder convict Harshal Raote, 44, died after a fall from the fifth floor of the state secretariat or Mantralaya on Thursday evening. While the police have registered an accidental death report (ADR), state education minister Vinod Tawde said they will investigate if the incident was an accident or suicide.

Raote was rushed to St George Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. If proved to be a suicide, this will be the fourth such incident in two weeks, and second in a row.

Officials said Raote was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case and was out on furlough, which was to end on Friday. He had reportedly come to the general administrative department (GAD). “The CCTV footage will be examined to see what exactly happened. We are still investigating why he had come to Mantralaya,” said Tawde.

Raote was convicted for killing his sister-in-law Suvarna Kadam. According to officials, Raote took Rs85,000 from Kadam by promising her a job in a bank. Kadam soon discovered that Raote had deceived her by giving her a fake job appointment letter. Fearing Kadam would defame him, Raote stabbed Kadam 44 times.

The statement from the Paithan open prison, where Raote was lodged, issued by additional director general of police (prisons) BK Upadhyay said, “Raote was a life convict. He was on furlough from January 10. It was his last day of leave.” Deepak Kesarkar, MoS for home, said, “Life-term convicts get remission after serving 14 years. He had completed 12 years. It was impossible to consider the demand.”

Opposition leaders Jayant Patil, Dhananjay Munde and Ajit Pawar rushed to the Mantralaya. “Mantralaya has unfortunately become a suicide point in the state,” Patil said. Dr Madhukar Gaikwad, medical superintendent, St George hospital, said “Raote suffered injuries to his head, back and hands.”

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Avinash Shetye, from Ahmednagar district poured kerosene on himself to protest against the government for not getting him a job. On January 22, 84-year old Dharma Patil consumed poison outside Mantralaya.