BENGALURU: A 45-year-old businessman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the flat belonging to actress Krishi Thapanda on Wednesday night.
The victim, Vaishak alias Vaishak Upadhyay, reportedly hanged himself at the actress’ flat in Elegant Terraces located in Rajarajeshwari Nagar around 8.30 pm. Vaishak and Krishi were close friends.
The actress was not at the flat when the incident occurred. It came to light after the flat owner called the police control room around midnight. Before taking the extreme step, Vaishak had called and messaged Krishi to tell her about his decision. Krishi, who was in Nelamangala, tried to convince him not to take the extreme step and rushed back to her flat.
But when she entered the flat, she found him hanging. She then informed the flat owner, who called the police, and the victim’s wife. The police did not find any death note at the flat. Both Vaishak and Krishi had separate keys to the flat.
Businessman was depressed: Police
As Vaishak had a strained relationship with his wife, Vaishak regularly visited Krishi’s flat and over the last one week, he had been staying at the flat, though Krishi was not. Over the last one week, he had been going to his office near Veerabhadra Signal from the actress’ flat. Vaishak, a resident of Girinagar, had been married to Megha for the last 15 years.
The Flat No. 403 on the fourth floor of the apartment where the incident occurred has been rented by Krishi. Vaishak had told Krishi that he would go to the flat around 8.30 pm. He had also reportedly messaged her that he was depressed because of disputes with his wife.
Even as Vaishak called Krishi to tell her about his decision, she tried to calm him down, telling him that they both could visit a temple so that he could come out of his depression.
The police seized his mobile phone and are examining it. Vaishak ran an automobile business and also had a garage. He and Megha have a 14-year-old son. Megha has sought a thorough probe into the suicide to find out the exact cause. Before taking the extreme step, Vaishak had messaged his wife enquiring about his father and son. When Megha and Vaishak’s father arrived at the flat, they saw the body lying on the bed. He had used Krishi’s saree to hang himself.
A police officer said, “Krishi’s role is not established in the businessman’s suicide. It appears that he took the extreme step as he was depressed. The victim’s wife has filed the complaint, but has not blamed anyone. A case of unnatural death has been registered.”
The body has been shifted to the mortuary of the Victoria Hospital for postmortem. The RR Nagar police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by the victim’s wife.
In the first week of February this year, Vaishak was arrested by the HAL police for threatening businessman Aravind Venkatesh Reddy of AVR Group. Krishi, who was in a relationship with Reddy, had filed a police complaint accusing him of harassment. Krishi and Reddy had gone before the media making allegations against each other. Vaishak had got involved in the row and had sent a threat letter to Reddy through a courier, demanding Rs 7-8 crore. The case is still under investigation. After this development, Vaishak’s relationship with his wife had soured.
HELPLINE
If you have suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.