Former pro-vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University found dead in Lake flat

KOLKATA: Ashish Verma, a former pro-vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University, was found lying dead on the floor of the bedroom of his Southern Avenue residence on Saturday morning.
Prima facie, police have ruled out foul play but have reserved their opinion on whether it was an unnatural death. The investigating officer said the post-mortem report (that was carried out on Saturday evening) will clear all doubts. “The report will explain if there was any drugging or excessive consumption of any substance,” said an officer from the south division.

On Saturday morning, Verma’s domestic help had come to report for work when she found the door ajar. She went inside and found Verma lying on the floor. When Verma did not respond, she alerted the neighbours. The Tollygunge police was informed thereafter. “We found no external injury marks on the body. There were cigarettes strewn all over the bedroom. We found several medicines — some of high doses — stacked in the room,” said an officer.
Police sources said they had found a four-line note in Hindi addressed to a person named Guria. “The note seems to be addressed to someone he considers his daughter. The note has asked that his ring be handed over to her. It also mentions that she should go through a thorough check-up once she reached Mumbai some time in mid-May. We are contacting his family members to ascertain his recent whereabouts. We are told that his mother stays in Varanasi,” said an investigator.
According to police, Verma’s neighbours have informed them that he rarely interacted with them. The university had granted him six months to continue staying at this accommodation even though he had retired from JU. “Neighbours had not seen him from Friday morning,” said an investigating officer. “The homicide section visited the spot on Saturday and if required, we will consult the state forensic laboratory,” said the officer.