RTI activist's wife demands halt of husband's suicide probe

The wife of RTI activist Vilas Baravkar, who had allegedly committed suicide in 2014, has written a letter to Maharashtra Home minister, district police and the CID, for stopping the investigation into the case.
Ujjwala Baravkar said her family has been "suffering" as they are repeatedly called for the probe into the suicide of her husband.
Notably, the RTI activist had in his suicide note named several politicians and senior police officers behind his extreme step.
"My family has been suffering a lot post my husband's death. We have been called repeatedly for investigation," Ujjwala told PTI, from her hometown in Chakan.

She said that she was fed up with the repeated inquiries and wanted an end to the trauma.
"Due to this, my family is subjected to mental, physical, financial and social harassment," she stated in her letter addressed to state Home Minister, Pune SP, CID, mediapersons and Pune-based noted RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar.

In her letter sent on January 25, Ujjwala mentioned, "We are not aware of the exact cause of my husband's suicide, but people come to us asking for help. Nowadays, me and my family are going through various problems."
"...The investigating agencies have been calling us and others frequently, asking us the exact cause of my husband's suicide. This is causing us mental, social, economical and physical harassment...," she further mentioned.

RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said, "The police should investigate the case sensitively and ensure that victim's family should not be harassed or questioned."
Baravkar, who was working against illegal construction activity in Chakan and had received the ire of some political bigwigs, had on March 25, 2014, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his home in Pimpri Chinchwad area here.
The 52-year-old RTI activist had mentioned over 50 names, including those of political leaders and police officials, in his four-page suicide note.