Nitin Desai Death Probe: Loan Company Under Scanner; 5 Edelweiss ARC Officials Booked for Abetment to Suicide

Navi Mumbai: The Khalapur police registered a case against five persons including officials of ECL Finance, promoted by Edelweiss Group, for the alleged abetment of art director Nitin Desai’s suicide.

The case was registered following a complaint filed on August 4 by Desai’s wife, Neha Nitin Desai, at Khalapur police station, alleging that office bearers of ECL Finance Company caused psychological distress with regard to a loan that Nitin Desai had reportedly taken. Fed up with the repeated mental harassment, Desai committed suicide, she alleged.

Based on the complaint, Khalapur police registered a case against office bearers and others under section 306 (abetment to suicide) and section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC. Sub Divisional Police official Vikram Kadam is carrying out the investigation.

About Nitin Desai's Suicide

On Wednesday morning, Desai, 58, was found dead at his ND Studio in Karjat, around 80 km from Mumbai. A case of sudden death was registered at Khalapur police station the same day.

Khalapur police also recovered a voice recorder that contained 11 audio clips. In one of them, Desai reportedly revealed the names of those responsible for his drastic step, according to a source.

Desai Pays Final Salutation To Lalbaug Cha Raja Through Audio Clips

“My last salutation to Lalbaug cha Raja,” Desai reportedly said in the audio, the source said. The art director is also said to have requested the state and central government to ensure that his studio is used to nurture talent and does not go into the hands of financiers.

Desai, who had worked for acclaimed Bollywood films such as "Lagaan" and "Jodhaa Akbar", allegedly hanged himself at his studio at Karjat in Raigad district on Wednesday.