Himanshu Roy commits suicide; updates: Mumbai Police issues statement, says top cop was depressed

Suicide note recovered from Himanshu Roy’s residence

According to CNN-News18, the suicide note says that no one should be held responsible for Roy’s death.

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson: Himanshu Roy on 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai 

Himanshu Roy talked about the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai at the India Today Conclave in 2014. During the talks, Roy said that even when you lose, you don’t lose the lesson. “It was a failure of imagination instead. Any attack can be taken as a failure of intelligence. But the important thing is to learn the lessons and move on,” Roy said about the aftermath of the attacks. 

 “We had received a large of intelligence inputs. But it was not easy to put them together. Today we have the advantage of hindsight,” he added. “I do not know if we are going to win this battle, but we certainly have a better resolve now,” he concluded about the terror attacks.

A look at celebrated top cop’s important cases

Roy, a celebrated police officer, had a battery of sensitive and high-profile cases to his credit, which drew a lot of media attention. He was the joint commissioner, crime, between 2010 and 2014, during which period Roy cracked the IPL betting scam and the murders of Laila Khan and five of her relatives at the family’s Igatpuri house.

An officer of the 1998 batch, Roy had a sterling career spanning close to 20 years and he had around five years of service left. 

Police yet to recover suicide note

According to IANS, Mumbai police have not recovered any suicide note yet, while there were stunned reactions of disbelief from the entire state police top brass. According to NDTV , Himanshu Roy also used to talk to colleagues about retiring early from the police force.

Himanshu Roy’s body sent to GT Hospital for post-mortem

India Today reports that there has been no official statement from the Mumbai Police on Himanshu Roy’s death yet. It added that the body is in Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital for post-mortem.

Forensics team arrives at former Maharashtra ATS chief Himanshu Roy’s residence, reports ANI 

It is shocking and a sad end to a brilliant officer: D Sivanandhan, former Mumbai city cop

D Sivanandhan, former police commissioner of Mumbai says he is unable to believe that Roy has killed himself. “I haven’t been able to speak to anyone after hearing the news as it is not sinking in that Roy could commit suicide. I am shaken by this terrible news,” said the former top cop.

When Sivanandhan was the commissioner of police, Mumbai, Roy was the joint commissioner of police. “Roy’s office was on the second floor and mine on the first. Every day he would come to meet me and we spoke for some time. We also lived in the same building,” he said. 

It was Sivanandhan who asked Roy to set up the cyber crime cell in Mumbai. “He was a fine officer and very competent. We inaugurated the cyber crime cell in a big manner,” he said.

Sivanandhan says that Roy came from a good family background. “He was a Mumbai boy who studied at Campion School and then went to St Xavier’s College. He was 12 years younger to me who did his IPS in 1988. Roy was very likeable. I remember him as a very good human being who was an upright officer,” he said.

Once Roy came to know he was afflicted with cancer, he became a recluse, said Sivanandhan. He did not keep in touch with many from the force like he would earlier. “But I think this is what could happen when you battle cancer,” he said.

Sivanandhan said that he no one can be blamed for what Roy did the pain must have driven him to do what he did. “It is shocking and a sad end to a brilliant officer,” he said.

Police officers are constantly under the lens of media and public, and face a lot of criticism: MN Singh

“We knew that he was very particular about fitness and it showed in his physique. It is surprising that a man of his tough bearing should end his life like this,” said MN Singh. “It must be because of the serious illness that he was suffering from and on account of the pain. It also brings me to the point that those who do field assigments without getting any break to relax or rest, like it happens in the army, are bound to suffer from stress and depression,” he added.

“Also, the job is tough and officers are evaluated as they are under the lens of the public, the media and face criticism. Losing a young and competent officer like Roy in the prime of his life is very sad and tragic, not just for his family but also for the force that needs such able and competent officers,” he said.

Himanshu Roy was part of team which pursued leads linked with David Headley

Roy was also part of the team which pursued leads related to American-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, who was involved in carrying out a recce mission ahead of the 26/11 terror strike. — PTI

Ex-Mumbai police commissioner praises Himanshu Roy

“When I was the commissioner of police, Mumbai in early 2000, Roy was my deputy commissioner of police. I had given him Zone 1 — South Mumbai, which is considered to be a tough charge,” said former Mumbai police commissioner MN Singh.

“That zone is where all the government offices and ministers are located. It is an area where there are morchas and demonstrations. I knew it was a tough charge but I chose to give it to Roy as I knew he could and did a good job,” he added.

Himanshu Roy had set up Mumbai’s first cyber crime cell

Born on 23 June, 1963, Himanshu Roy was an alumnus of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Roy was responsible for the arrest of actor Vindoo Dara Singh in the IPL spot-fixing case. He was also responsible for the arrest of Gurunath Meiyappan, reported The Indian Express .

He was credited for setting up Mumbai’s first cyber crime cell. In 2014, he, along with Rakesh Maria, became the first police officer in Mumbai to be given Z+ security.

We lost one of our very bright officers: IPS Association

Bollywood celebrities express grief over Roy’s death

Himanshu Roy was a capable officer and will be missed: Milind Deora

I am in pain. It is unbearable: Roy had said to former city cop Arup Patnaik

Arup Patnaik, former police commissioner of Mumbai, shared his thoughts on Himanshu Roy.

“I am shocked by the turn of events. This was completely unexpected,” Patnaik said. He spoke glowingly of the deceased police officer. “I found him very sharp, very polished, very sophisticated. He was a fitness freak. He was very mature and cool-headed,” he said, pointing out the killing of journalist J Dey and the IPL case.

“Roy has been suffering from cancer for the past 3 years. It was detected quite late when he noticed a swelling on his body. The cancer had spread to his bones. To his credit, he continued to work even then and only took leave in the past two years. I was in touch with him and in fact he had asked me 3 months ago for a reference to get an expert opinion. I had referred him to a doctor and it was then after check-ups it was found that the cancer had spread to his brain. The option was to go in for surgery, but I think Roy knew there wasn’t much hope for him. That must be why I think he shot himself. This is my hunch. Of course, a police investigation will reveal the details as it was an unnatural death," Patnaik further said.

Police officers in field jobs need to be given proper rest: Ex-Mumbai police commissioner

“It’s a loss to the government and society. Police officers in field jobs have to face tremendous pressure and need to be given proper rest and leave,” MN Singh, former Mumbai police commissioner, told reporters.

“He was not meeting a lot of people because he was seriously ill. But suddenly this incident took place. It is very shocking,” Singh further said.

Loss of Himanshu Roy a shock for us: Kumar Vishwas

Roy’s request to the home department was sidelined: Priyanka Chaturvedi

“I am extremely shocked and saddened. It is extremely unfortunate and a huge loss. He had a spectacular track record in ensuring safety and security for the city,” said Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi.

“I also have questions in my mind about what led him to suicide,” she further said. “His request to the home department was sidelined, in which he had claimed he was being targetted.”

Roy was extremely sharp: Ex-Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik

“He was very soft-spoken. He was very disciplined. There are many other cases which were handled by him. He was extremely sharp,” said former Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik.

Roy had been serving as additional director general of police

Himanshu Roy shot himself with his service revolver on Friday afternoon.

Former Maharashtra ATS chief Himanshu Roy commits suicide