MUMBAI, December 9: In a bizarre incident, an accused committed suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of a building in Dadar in the presence of the police last morning. In his dying declaration given to the special executive officer, the accused said he resorted to the extreme step out of a feeling of guilt.

Shaligram Kalicharan Pal (40) jumped from the fourth floor of Priyadarshini Apartments, Bhavani complex, Bhavani Shankar Road, Dadar west, at around 11 am. Pal was rushed to King Edward Memorial hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries late last night.

He jumped in a flash, and the three constables escorting him during an investigation could do nothing but watch him fall to death.

According to the police, Pal, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, had shifted to Mumbai a few years ago. A driver by profession, he changed several jobs as he always had altercations with his employers over wages, the police informed. Police records show Pal was a habitual car thief and was a criminal in Uttar Pradesh. There were at least seven cases registered against him in different police stations in Mumbai.

Recently, he was arrested by Dongri police in a case of car theft. Following the normal procedure of informing all police stations in the city about the arrest of any habitual offender, Dongri police alerted all police stations saying any other police station could question him for car thefts in their jurisdiction. The Dadar police then interrogated Pal, who revealed that he used to sell stolen cars to one of his earlier employers staying at Bhavani Shankar Road.

A police team comprising three constables yesterday took him to trace the buyer of the stolen cars, who Pal claimed was his former employer. On the way, Pal was handcuffed and did not make any attempt to escape, informed the police. On reaching the alleged buyers' flat on the fourth floor of the building, Pal requested the constables to remove the fetters. The constables conceded his demand, and the four entered the flat of the buyer (name withheld). A few minutes later, when the policemen were speaking to the buyer, Pal seized the opportunity and jumped out of the open window.

When contacted, Zonal Deputy Police Commissioner Sunil Dongre told Express Newsline, ``He felt he had betrayed his former employer by revealing his name to the police. This created a strong feeling of guilt in his mind and he jumped from the window. However, the police are not at fault in this case. We had taken enough precautions.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.