Junagadh dist panchayat member’s suicide: Nine loan sharks booked

Rajkot: Nine loan sharks were booked for the suicide abetment of a member of Junagadh district panchayat who ended his life by consuming poison at his residence in Vadal village of Junagadh taluka on Friday evening.
The deceased was identified as Pravin Kothia (57).

In his suicide note, Kothia alleged that he was being harassed by nine loan sharks for the recovery of Rs 5.61 crore. Following this, police have booked the accused identified as Praful, the owner of Varsha Industries, Gabaru Dhandhal and his brother, both residents of Baliyavad village of Junagadh taluka, Meru Divyaraniya, the owner of Maruti oil mill in Sabalpur village of Junagadh taluka, Arashi Ahir, Goa Ahir and Masri Baria, all residents of Daulatpar village of Junagadh taluka, Rajendra Chaudhary, a resident of Dhoraji in Rajkot district, and Pravin Boricha, a resident of Keshodh of Junagadh district.

“Kothia was a real estate broker. After incurring heavy losses in his business, he mortgaged his different plots of land and took Rs 5.61 crore from the accused. However, as Kothia could not repay the amount nor its interest to the accused, they started harassing him by threatening him. Tired of this, he decided to end his life,” said B M Vaghmasi, sub-inspector with Junagadh taluka police station.

The accused have been booked on the complaint of Kothia’s son Jignesh Kothia (32). The police have formed two teams to nab the accused who absconded after Kothia’s suicide.