Thane: Fresh probe in ‘suicides’ registered as accidents

THANE: The Thane sub-divisional office (SDO) will review and start fresh investigations, if required, into 247 incidents of suicides, and unnatural deaths that have been registered as accidental death report (ADR) cases in the first quarter of 2023 within the Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar city police limits, officials informed.
The officials summed up the process saying that it was an opportunity for relatives or acquaintances to seek fresh probe if they suspect or have evidence of foul play in the cause of death of their relatives or any known person, that was classified as accidental death during the police investigation.
“The police investigating any suicide or unnatural death submit their report, often classified as accidental death to the respective assistant commissioner, following which it is sent to the magistrate for closure. However, before a closure report is filed, relatives or anyone who has witnessed the incident or has information about it or suspect foul play can approach the magistrate seeking a fresh probe to ascertain the cause of death under relevant sections of the criminal procedure code,” explained Avinash Shinde, sub-divisional magistrate, Thane.
“A time period of anywhere between seven days or a month is given to residents following a public notice seeking objections, which is then analysed. In case of any objections, the police are directed to conduct a fresh probe. If there is nothing conclusive or any fresh developments spotted in the fresh probe or no one has any objections, the case is then closed by the magistrate,” informed Shinde.
As many as 247 cases have been identified in the first quarter of 2023. Their details will be displayed at the Thane sub-divisional officer's office on the second floor, collector's office in Thane for residents to approach the SDO and record their statements or share evidence regarding the same. Following this a fresh probe may be directed in the respective cases, informed Naib Tehsildar Rahul Suryavanshi. It may be recalled that nearly 4,716 cases of accidental death had been identified for a review since 2019 of which none of them required a fresh probe.