BEST conductor facing departmental inquiry ends life

MUMBAI: The suicide of a 35-year-old bus conductor attached to Pratiksha Nagar depot who was called for a departmental inquiry on Thursday for “absenteeism” has raised a storm in BEST. Union leaders have alleged the conductor, Sunil Ingole (35), was under “tremendous pressure” due to the chargesheets filed by his superiors and the inquiry.
BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade said it was an unfortunate incident but dismissed the claim that Ingole “was compelled to commit suicide due to mental stress regarding the departmental chargesheets and inquiry”.
Ingole was married and lived in Kalamboli, said BEST union leader J M Kahar. He added Ingole was depressed and feared dismissal from service.
Varade said he had been already dismissed in November 2017 after three chargesheets of “absenteeism”.
“He was reinstated in July 2018,” Varade added.