GWALIOR: A 26-year-old engineer died after allegedly consuming poison at his uncle’s house in Gwalior on Saturday. The man was facing a rape case under the POCSO Act in Dabra involving a 2-year-and-11-month-old girl. His family alleged that he was being blackmailed for money to “settle” the case. The deceased, identified as Love, also known as Lovejeet Singh Rana, was a BTech graduate and a resident of Ramgarh in Dabra.
He had been living in Purushottam Vihar Colony with his uncle after losing his job following the registration of the case. He allegedly consumed poison on Friday night. Family members found him in critical condition on Saturday morning and rushed him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. According to the family, the girl’s mother had demanded Rs 60 lakh to withdraw the case. They claimed Rs 30 lakh had already been paid, but the pressure continued for the remaining amount. The family also accused the complainant’s lawyer of issuing threats and pressuring them for money. They alleged that the sustained pressure pushed Love into depression, leading to his suicide. Police said an FIR under the POCSO Act had been registered at Dabra City police station in April after the woman alleged that Lovejeet and another man took her daughter for a car ride and returned her frightened, following which she noticed an injury. The allegations had sparked outrage at the time. Lovejeet, who had reportedly topped his board exams in Dabra, completed his engineering from an institute in Indore and was working with a multinational company in Gurgaon. He had come home on leave in April when the case was registered. Gola Ka Mandir police said the body has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway. “Action will be taken based on the facts that emerge,” an officer said, adding that allegations of extortion will also be examined.
