Akola double suicide case: Note names 2 for harassment

Akola: A suspected double suicide in Barshi Takli tehsil of Akola district took a serious turn after police recovered a suicide note alleging mental harassment and threats by two individuals and registered a criminal case.The bodies of two men were found hanging from a neem tree with the same rope in a forested patch near Mahan dam on Tuesday. Police said the case initially appeared to be suicide based on circumstantial and preliminary evidence.The deceased were identified as Kishor Sonatakke, 40, of Kanadi in Murtijapur taluka of Akola, and Kishor Bodkhe, 60, of Warud in Mangrulpir taluka of Washim district.Police said both men had left home on May 9. A missing complaint for Sonatakke was registered at Pinjar police station on May 10, while Bodkhe was reported missing at Mangrulpir police station.Police found a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by one of the deceased to a relative, indicating distress. Investigators have also secured the last call recording made by the deceased, which they are treating as important evidence.A handwritten suicide note was later recovered from Sonatakke's pocket during the inquest. In it, he allegedly accused one Nilesh Chaudhary and Pooja Nilesh Chaudhary of mental harassment, intimidation and sustained pressure, blaming them for the extreme step, police said. Based on the note, Barshi Takli police registered an offence under BNS against the two accused.Police said prima facie evidence points to suicide, but the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the post-mortem report. Investigators are examining mobile data, digital communication and other technical evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events and verify the allegations in the note.Senior officers, including SP Archit Chandak, additional SP B Chandrakant Reddy, SDPO Vaishali Mhule, local crime branch PI Shankar Shelke and Barshi Takli police station in-charge Pravin Dhumal, visited the spot and are supervising the investigation. The probe is being led by SI Balu Pawar of Barshi Takli police station.