Rs 2.5 lakh in debt, years of preparation: MPSC aspirant found dead in Pune flat, note recovered

PUNE: A 28-year-old MPSC aspirant was found hanging at his rented flat in Pune’s Shaniwar Peth on Wednesday morning, with a two-page note mentioning debts of around Rs 2.5 lakh, police said.The deceased was identified as Prathamesh Deshmukh, a native of Khasapuri village in Paranda tehsil of Dharashiv district. He had been living in Pune for the past two-three years and was preparing for competitive examinations, including the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exams.Senior inspector Navnath Jagtap of Vishrambaug police said the note, purportedly written by Deshmukh, indicated that financial distress may have prompted him to take the extreme step.“The note stated that Deshmukh had borrowed Rs 2.5 lakh for his own expenses. It had the names of people from whom he had borrowed money. We are probing why he had to borrow money,” Jagtap said.DCP (Zone I) Krushikesh Rawale said preliminary investigation indicated that Deshmukh was facing financial difficulties. Police are questioning his family members and examining other circumstances surrounding his death.Deshmukh had been staying in a one-BHK flat on the third floor of a building along with other students for around eight months, police said.His death came amid protests by MPSC aspirants in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the alleged leak of the Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination paper held in March.The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the alleged paper leak. The state government has also formed a high-level committee to suggest improvements to the examination process.Following Deshmukh’s death, political leaders and activists demanded greater accountability in the recruitment system.NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said students from rural and financially weaker backgrounds often borrow money to move to cities such as Pune for exam preparation, adding that delays and uncertainty can increase their financial and mental stress. He sought government assistance for Deshmukh’s family.Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke also linked the wider pressure on aspirants to exam irregularities, delays and uncertainty. He said students from modest backgrounds spend years on preparation, while continuing to bear expenses for rent, coaching, books and repeated attempts.Competitive Examination Students’ Association president Mahesh Gharbude said irregularities, unpredictable recruitment advertisements, delays in exams and results, and delays in appointments were adding to the financial burden on aspirants.Ambedkarite activist Rahul Sasane demanded government action and said the death highlighted the pressure faced by competitive examination aspirants.Police have registered a case of suicide and are investigating the circumstances surrounding Deshmukh’s death.