Defaulter ends life, kin blame recovery agents

33-yr-old clerk was ‘under pressure’ to pay up credit card dues of Rs7,000

MUMBAI:  A 33-year-old man committed suicide at his Dharavi home on Monday after being allegedly hounded by recovery agents.

Sanjay Kharat, a clerk in the MLA hostel near Mantralaya, had taken a loan of  Rs50,000 on his credit card in January. Though he had paid most of the amount, there was an outstanding of Rs7, 000.

According to Kharat’s relatives, two recovery agents from ICICI Bank came to his house around 12.30am on October 8, and threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to pay up by October 14. Kharat’s family said he was under tremendous pressure and, when his wife, Chandrakala, returned home around 8pm on Monday she found him hanging from the ceiling fan. 

The Dharavi police have registered a case of suicide, and will probe the alleged harassment by recovery agents. “We are recording the statements of Kharat’s relatives to establish the harassment angle. We will take appropriate action if it is true,” said a senior police official.

Meanwhile, a social organisation organised a protest on Wednesday against the bank and demanded compensation for Kharat’s family. “Pressure to pay up the loan drove Kharat to suicide,” said president of Maharashtra Karzdar Zamindar Hakk Bachao Samiti (MKZHBS), Mohan Adsul. 

ICICI Bank officials have denied the charge. They said Kharat was a small-time personal loan defaulter. “No follow-up for recovery of dues has been done by the bank in the last three months,” said head of corporate communications, ICICI Bank, Charudatta Deshpande.