Himanshu Roy, former chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, reportedly shot himself dead at his residence with his service revolver on 11 May. The mortal remains of Roy arrived at Chandanwadi in Mumbai for cremation, ANI reported.
A suicide note which has been recovered said “no one should be held responsible,” News18 reported.
The suicide note recovered by the Mumbai police said that the IPS officer was suffering from depression as a result of his illness due to cancer and hence, ended up committing suicide, ANI reported.
“The funeral ceremony will be held at 10 pm on 11 May at Chandanwadi crematorium in Mumbai’s Marine Lines,” author Amish Tripathi, Roy’s brother-in-law, told The Quint.
The forensic team arrived at the deceased’s residence on Friday, ANI reported.
According to preliminary information, he shot himself with his service revolver at his south Mumbai house around 1.40 pm, IANS reported. He was rushed to the Bombay hospital by some family members and aides where he was declared dead.
Unfortunately he was brought dead to the hospital. I knew him personally, he had lost lots of weight due to illness and didn’t have the same personality as earlier.Dr Gautam Bhansali, Consultant Physician, Bombay Hospital to ANI
Roy had been granted a long-leave for six months in 2016, with the option to extend it further, Mumbai Mirror reported. He was then the additional director general of police (housing).
A Chartered Accountant by training, Roy is survived by his wife Bhawna Roy, an IAS officer who quit civil services to work with NGOs in Maharashtra.
IPS Roy Probed 26/11 Attacks & Cracked IPL Betting Scandal
The deceased top cop was credited with directing the investigations into several high-profile cases in the past few years.
Roy served as the joint commissioner of Mumbai police in the crime branch from 2010 to 2014.
He directed the probe into betting scams of 2013, in which several top cricketers and Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh were among the accused, and the brutal killing of lawyer Pallavi Puryakayastha – daughter of an IAS officer at the Centre – at her Mumbai home in August 2012, IANS reported.
After his stint at the crime branch, he headed the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Mumbai.
Roy was part of the investigating team of 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and journalist J Dey murder case, The News Minute reported.
Roy was also part of the team which pursued leads related to American-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, who was involved in carrying out a recce mission ahead of the 26/11 terror strike, PTI reported.
In addition, he nabbed software engineer Anees Ansari for allegedly planning to blow up the American school at the Bandra Kurla complex, PTI reported.
Roy is also reportedly credited with setting up Mumbai’s first cyber crime cell. Roy had alleged favouritism and poor treatment by seniors in writing to the Maharashtra home department in 2015, NDTV reported.
Following which, Roy was removed as the ATS chief and was appointed additional director general in charge of police housing, the report added.
Fanavis, Officials From Top Police Brass Offer Condolences
The entire state police top brass was stunned after his sudden demise.
The IPS Association said Roy’s tragic death is an “irreparable loss” and offered condolences to the family.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed regret at the loss of a “capable officer”.
He was known as a daring officer and had held many important positions. With his demise, we have lost a capable officer.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Former Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik said, “There are many other cases which were handled by him. He was extremely sharp," Firstpost reported. Roy was “soft-spoken, disciplined,” Patnaik added.
Another senior colleague MN Singh told NDTV, "He was a very bright officer. Such a tragedy.”
Reacting to his sudden demise, former Maharashtra DGP PS Pasricha said, “I used to speak to him every few months. In the past few months, he used to feel low due to his health,” according to India.com, reported The News Minute.
(With inputs from The News Minute, IANS, PTI)
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