US-based NRI jumps to death

Surat: A 38-year-old man from the US, who had come to his uncle’s home early on Monday, ended his life by jumping from the balcony of a seventh-floor apartment in City Light in the afternoon. Dipesh Punjabi was suffering from health issues, his relatives told police.
Punjabi’s family is into electronics business in the US. He arrived from the US five days ago and was in Pune. He came to Surat on Monday morning. He was staying at his uncle’s home in City Light.
In the afternoon, he was not feeling well and refused to have lunch. He went to the balcony of the apartment to vomit around 1.30pm when his aunt stopped him saying that the watchman would complain.
Punjabi came inside but went back to the balcony again — around 2pm. “Keeping a leg on the grill he shouted that he would end his life and then jumped. His relatives were present but they are of old age. Punjabi jumped before they could do anything,” said a senior police officer.
His body was brought to New Civil Hospital for postmortem. Police registered a case of accidental death and started investigation.
“His parents and sister live in the US. The relatives informed police that Punjabi’s parents were not ready to allow him to come to India because of his health issues but he came against their wish,” said police.
Police are yet to question the relatives in detail as they were busy preparing for the cremation.
Police will question Punjabi’s parents over phone to gather more details about his health issues.