Thane: Mumbra Police Station constable ends life by consuming phenyl

Representational Picture/iStock

In a tragic incident, a police constable posted at Mumbra Police Station allegedly ended his own life by reportedly consuming phenyl. The reasons for this distressing act remain unclear, with initial reports identifying the constable as Swapnil Suresh Budhwant, aged 30.

DCP Ganesh Gawde (zone 1) stated, "The constable was on leave when he committed suicide. He worked as a driver and committed suicide outside the limits of Mumbra police station." When asked about the method, he added, "It is death by poison. The constable drank phenyl. His father is Suresh Budhwant, DySP Partur."

Nivrutti Bapurao Kolhatkar, senior PI of Mumbra police station, provided further details, stating, "Police Constable Swapnil Suresh Budhwant, assigned to the Motor Transport Department in Thane Rural, Konagav, Kalyan, reported for duty as a driver from February 8, 2022, at Mumbra Police Station, PCR-1."

"His native village is Parali in Beed district, and he had court duty from January 5, 2024, to January 7, 2024, for three days. However, he was absent from duty starting from January 8, 2024. On January 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM, he was informed by G.D. that he is required to be present as he said that he had some bank work. Unfortunately, he did not show up despite being informed. Today, on January 16, 2024, he had ingested poison, and during treatment at Fortis Hospital Mulund, he passed away. His family, residing in Nandur, Taluka Shevgaon, District Ahmednagar, has been contacted for necessary assistance."

More details are awaited as the cause of suicide remains unclear.

Meanwhile, Police seized two country-made pistols, a revolver and three live cartridges from the possession of a 19-year-old man in Thane's Mumbra on Tuesday.

The accused has been identified as Rakesh Mehta who hails from Aurangabad and was currently living in Sonarpada area of Dombivli in the district, newswire PTI reported quoting an official. Mehta was searched by a police team on Sunday night near the Mumbra railway station.

Police are probing from where he procured the arms and the purpose behind the acquisition, he said. The accused was booked under relevant provisions of the Arms Act and Maharashtra Police Act.