Dadra and Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar found dead in Mumbai hotel

In a shocking incident, Dadra and Nagar Haveli MP and senior politician Mohan Delkar died by suicide at a hotel in the Marine Drive area of Mumbai on Monday.

Delkar (58), an independent MP, died by hanging from the ceiling fan of his hotel room, according to initial investigations by the Mumbai Police.

Delkar, a senior Parliamentarian, had checked into the Sea Green South Hotel on Sunday evening and his body was found in his hotel room on Monday noon.

“A suicide note was found at the spot. The body has been set for post-mortem,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Chaitanya S, the Mumbai Police spokesperson.

An accidental death report (ADR) has been registered by the Marine Drive police station and investigations were in progress. 

The suicide note is written in Gujarati.

According to reports, in the suicide note he has blamed the bureaucracy for alleged harrassment, however, the Mumbai Police has not commented on it.

Forensic evidence is being collected from the hotel room and the timings of his visit to the hotel and movements are being analysed. 

The investigation is being supervised by the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Colaba division.

"Marine Drive police station reached the spot and conducted a panchnama. Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. However, the body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death," Director-cum-Deputy Secretary said in a statement. 

Delkar, popularly known as Mohanbhai, was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha in May, 2019. He was also a member of the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice and a member of the Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs.

He had represented the seat seven times – the earlier being in 1989 as an Independent, 1991 and 1996 from the Congress, 1998 as a BJP candidate, 1999 as an Independent and in 2004 representing Bharatiya Navshakti Party, a political outfit floated by him.

In 2009 and 2014, he lost the polls to BJP’s Nathubhai Patel but won the 2019 polls as an Independent.

In 2020, he made an alliance with the Janata Dal (United) for local body polls.

The body has been sent to Sir JJ Hospital after which it is likely to be taken to his Silvassa home.

Top police officials including Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Satyanarayan Chaudhary rushed to the hotel to supervise the investigations.

Meanwhile, AAP national Executive Member Preeti Sharma Menon said: "Sources claim his suicide note cites harassment from the bureaucracy. India needs widespread bureaucratic reforms. And all UTs need complete democracy, they are haven for arrogant officers."

Delkar is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

An advocate for tribal rights, Delkar began his career as a trade union leader in Silvassa. Later, he started Adivasi Vikas Sangathan for the tribals in 1985.

Delkar’s father Sanjibhai Delkar was elected to Lok Sabha from Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 1967 as Congress candidate, later joined Morarji Desai's NCO faction when the party split in 1969 and lost 1971 Lok Sabha election as NCO candidate.