Pune civil services aspirant dies by suicide, note mentions Rs 2.5 lakh debt

A Pune-based Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirant was found dead at his rented home, and police recovered a note detailing borrowings. The case has drawn attention to his financial distress as scrutiny of the MPSC system grows.The incident comes at a time when concerns over the MPSC examination system have intensified in Maharashtra. (Representative image)A 28-year-old man preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations died by suicide at his rented accommodation in Pune, with a debt of around Rs 2.5 lakh suspected to be a possible reason behind the extreme step, police said on Wednesday.The deceased has been identified as Prathamesh Deshmukh, a native of Paranda in Maharashtra. Deshmukh had been staying in a rented house in Navi Peth, Pune, where he was preparing for the MPSC examinations, Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said.According to police, some local residents alerted authorities after noticing the incident. A police team subsequently reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The exact time of Deshmukh's death will be established after the post-mortem examination, the DCP said.Police also recovered a two-page note left behind by Deshmukh. The note reportedly contained details of 18–19 people from whom he had borrowed money, along with information about the amounts he had repaid. CONTENTS OF THE NOTE A KEY PART FOR INVESTIGATIONThe contents of the note have become a key part of the ongoing investigation as police try to determine the circumstances that led to the debt and whether financial difficulties played a role in his death.DCP Rawale said police were questioning Deshmukh's family members to ascertain why he had borrowed the money and to gather more information about his financial circumstances. The police are also investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The incident comes at a time when concerns over the MPSC examination system have intensified in Maharashtra. The Mumbai Crime Branch is currently investigating a question paper leak linked to the MPSC Drug Inspector (Group-B) screening examination held in March.WHY THE PROTEST?The leak and other concerns over the recruitment process have triggered protests by MPSC aspirants in several parts of the state, including Pune.Protesters have demanded greater transparency in the conduct of examinations, action against those involved in paper leaks and an investigation into irregularities in various recruitment examinations.The state government has also constituted a high-level committee to examine the existing examination system and recommend measures to improve the overall recruitment process.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 07:18 IST