No one killed Karan Joseph: Case of musician who jumped from Bandra high-rise closed

An undated picture of Karan Joseph

Four years after keyboardist Karan Joseph jumped to his death from a Bandra high-rise, the Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday filed a closure report, saying they investigated all possible angles in the case and found nothing that suggests it was a case of abetment to suicide. Karan had jumped off the 12th floor flat of Rishi Shah, his friend and a music producer. Moments before, the musician had messaged his friends that bouncers at Shah's home had thrashed him.

The deceased with his mother Tina Joseph and brother Ashik Joseph. File pics

The incident had taken place on September 9, 2017, while he was with Shah at the latter's flat in Bandra Bandstand's Concorde Apartments. Bandra police had conducted the initial probe and they later filed an abetment of suicide case against an unknown person based on complaints from Karan's father. Allegations were levelled against Shah.

Later, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch, which submitted the C-summary report on Wednesday. C summary is filed when the case is neither true nor false or when the criminal case was filed due to mistake of facts or the offence complained about is of a civil nature. Officers said they were waiting for certain forensic reports that took long. "We have submitted the closure report after conducting a thorough investigation. Nothing incriminating was found to support the allegations levelled by the family," said Neelotpal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection).

Clockwise from left, Karan Joseph, his father Thomas Joseph, brother Ashik Joseph and mother Tina Joseph. File pic

According to sources, the family had given their own questionnaires and wanted the Crime Branch to investigate, as they suspected he was forced to take his life. The family had also alleged that before Karan jumped to his death, he told his friends that he was being beaten up by the bouncers at Shah's flat. "We have examined WhatsApp chats of the deceased and also Shah, but found nothing incriminating to suggest that something went wrong between them. Dozens of statements recorded by officers also did not support any harassment by Shah," said an officer privy to investigation. During the course of investigation, police had recreated the crime scene at the building by throwing a dummy having the same height and weight of the deceased, in the presence of senior officers, and medical and forensics experts. "The medical and forensics teams also submitted their reports on the recreation of the crime scene, which pointed to suicide," the officer added.

Music producer Rishi Shah from whose flat Karan jumped to his death. File pic

As per the process, the Crime Branch has also informed Karan's family about the C summary. The family has so far not raised any objections to it, but they have time to go to the court and file a protest petition if they are not satisfied with the investigation. The magistrate court then decides if reinvestigation is needed.

Family Speak

"We have received intimation from the Crime Branch about the closure report, but we still haven't got a closure, even five years after losing our son. We want to be at peace. It's too painful for us, and we can't even imagine what he went through. No one should be tortured like this. We are not happy with the investigation, but have accepted that God has taken him," Karan's mother Tina Joseph told mid-day. "We can never be happy. We miss him a lot. But, I'm happy the way he helped others and I am trying to live with the legacy he left. He was a genuine soul on the Earth," Tina said. Karan's friends, after his death, had told mid-day that he faced mental torture, and emotional and physical abuse during his stay with Shah.

Sep 9, 2017
Day Karan Joseph died