Jaipur: A 50-year-old man who set himself ablaze outside the Transport Nagar police station on Monday succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at SMS Hospital early Tuesday morning.Police have registered a case against Rajesh Sharma’s partner, Kailash Maheshwari, based on a prior complaint and statement submitted by Sharma before his death. DCP (East), Tejaswini Gautam, said that Maheshwari was arrested and further investigation was underway. “He (Maheshwari) was arrested for threatening and hurling abuses at Sharma’s family,” she said.Preliminary investigation revealed that Sharma borrowed Rs 1.5 crore from Maheshwari for a venture. Due to problems in paying the allegedly high interest, he reportedly faced continued harassment, including a confrontation at his home days before the incident.Sharma lived with his family in Sethi Colony, Transport Nagar, for the past three years. On the morning of the incident, he approached the police station with a bottle of petrol hidden under his shirt, wandered outside briefly, and then set himself on fire.Police said further investigation is underway to examine the role of those named in the complaint and also to determine if any lapses occurred.Sharma suffered over 50% burn injuries after he poured petrol over himself and set himself on fire near a tree just 10 meters from the police station. The incident occurred around 7:45 AM on June 30, allegedly over police inaction regarding a complaint he filed against his business partner, Kailash Maheshwari.According to police officials, Sharma tried to run inside the police station while still engulfed in flames. The station staff quickly covered him with a blanket and rushed him to the burn ward at SMS Hospital, where he died Tuesday. The deceased’s family levelled serious allegations against Maheshwari and alleged that he insulted them, calling them names and threatening Sharma and his family, including his wife and daughter.
