Bombay, July 11, 2005
Nishant A Bhuse
Mid Day
On the night of July 9, the Oshiwara police recovered
the decomposed body of 35-year-old NRI Jayesh Narayandas
Sonejee, a Dubai-based businessman, who had committed
suicide.
The body was discovered by the caretaker at an apartment
at Dheeraj Gaurav Heights, Lokhandwala.
The suicide note found next to the body blamed his
girlfriend Aarti Harinarayan Raj (21), a dancer at
Carnival dancebar, Worli and her associate, Hitesh,
for betrayal and cheating.
It is learnt that the deceased was diabetic and may
have overdosed on insulin. He was staying at a flat
owned by Aarti’s eldest sister, Bharti Raj (24).
Body discovered
NRI Sonejee was staying at the apartment since the
last eight days and every few days, the caretaker,
Charu Maheshwari, would visit the flat get it cleaned.
On the night of July 9, Charu came to the flat with
a request from Bharti to vacate the flat, as she wanted
to shift base from Bangalore to Mumbai in few days.
In the bedroom, she found Sonejee’s decomposed
body and promptly informed the police.
The building’s security guard added that Sonejee
was last seen on Thursday, July 7, when he came down
to collect a food parcel in the afternoon.
No foul play
The Oshiwara police said there were no obvious signs
of foul play. The body was found in the bedroom with
the mobile phone hands-free still in the corpse’s
ears.
“There were no signs of any violent act in the
room and all the valuables were still intact,”
stated sub-inspector Popat Muley of Oshiwara police
station. The cops also found four empty bottles of
insulin with syringes, next to the corpse.
They believe that Sonejee may have committing suicide
by overdosing on the insulin.
Love story turns sour
The police say it was Bharti who first met Sonejee
three years ago in a dance bar at Dubai where they
became friends.
When Sonejee arrived in Mumbai last year, he was
introduced to Aarti, and they fell in love. The police
said that whenever Sonejee came to the city, he spent
a lot of money on Aarti, which made him financially
weak.
Police sources added that Sonejee wanted to divorce
his wife and get married to Aarti, but she refused
his proposal. Police say that Sonejee learnt that
Aarti was two-timing him and had cheated him of a
lot of money.
Did not take calls
According to Bharti’s statement to the police,
she permitted Sonejee to reside at her apartment,
whenever he visited Mumbai. She also said that Sonejee
and Aarti fought frequently.
It is learnt that Sonejee last spoke to Aarti on
Thursday evening, after which he did answer the phone.
The police believe it is likely that Aarti may have
sent Charu to the flat to find out about Sonejee ’s
whereabouts.
Sonejee was based in Dubai for the last 15 years
and lived with his parents, wife and his 10-year-old
son.
Excerpts from suicide note
“This is to declare that I, Jayesh Narayandas
Sonejee, am committing suicide only because of Miss
Aarti Harinarayan Raj, who with the help of Mr Hitesh
have cheated and betrayed me. This is to request the
commissioner of police to please see to it that the
two get prosecuted and charged…
Aarti is a bar dancer at Carnival dance bar. Inform
my father that none of my in-laws should attend my
funeral, except for my wife and my son…”
He had also clipped Aarti’s picture on the suicide
note, which read, Aarti love of my life’.
Sonejee had also written down the contact numbers,
addresses of Aarti, Bharti his father Narayandas and
his other family members, so the police could contact
them.
