Charu Deshpande suicide: Mumbai police grill employees

A six-member team of Mumbai police today interrogated employees of Tata Steel's Corporate Communication department here in connection with the suicide of Charudatta Deshpande, the company's former chief of Corporate Communication, in Mumbai last month.

The interrogation led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Deoraj lasted for about nine hours.

The team comprised of officials from the Mumbai Crime Branch and Thane police, Deoraj said and hinted that they were likely to continue the interrogation tomorrow.

Maharashtra home minister R R Patil had ordered Mumbai Crime Branch chief Himanshu Roy to probe the alleged suicide of Deshpande (57) who was found hanging at his Vasai home on June 28.

There were allegations that Deshpande killed himself following harassment by the employees of Tata Steel.

A departmental inquiry into the circumstances leading to Deshpande's death has also been ordered by Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry.

Meanwhile, Tata Steel said in a statement in Delhi that it has expanded the committee formed to ascertain the facts by inducting an independent director of the company.

"Further to our communication dated July 2, on the appointment of the committee to ascertain the facts relating to the allegations surrounding the demise of Charudatta Deshpande, the Board of Tata Steel has expanded the committee with the induction of OP Bhatt, independent director of the company," it said in the statement.

Tata Steel said it has been extending full support to police investigations.

"Earlier today, a team of Maharashtra police officials investigating the demise of Charudatta Deshpande visited Tata Steel's offices in Jamshedpur. Tata Steel's officials have extended their full support and cooperation to the ongoing investigations," it said.