Pune man jumps into the sea from Atal Setu, missing

George Mendonca

Navi Mumbai: A 28-year-old man from Rajangaon, Pune, identified as Pratik Raskar, jumped into the sea from Atal Setu near Ulwe after halting his SUV at the 13 km mark on the Mumbai carriageway on Sunday past midnight at 1.29 am, as spotted in the CCTV camera surveillance at the spot on the bridge. Raskar was in the profession of share market trading classes, informed Ulwe police.
As Raskar was missing even after more than seven hours of a massive multi-agency search operation involving the Ulwe Police, maritime security forces, and specialised coastal police rescue teams, which was immediately carried out to locate him in the sea on Sunday, the Ulwe police contacted Raskar's cousin brother after they found his mobile, driving licence and Aadhar card in his SUV parked on the bridge and informed him about the incident. Thereafter, Raskar's missing complaint was lodged by his brother-in-law, Dhiraj Jadhav (32), a transporter, on Sunday, around 9 am, after he arrived from Pune. Ulwe police have handed over Raskar's SUV to Jadhav. The search operation was carried out in the sea for more than 36 hours and then discontinued after sunset on Monday.

When TOI contacted the complainant, Dhiraj Jadhav, he said, "My brother-in-law Pratik Raskar had left in his SUV from his Ranjangaon residence on Saturday around 10.30 pm after telling his mother that he was going out for dinner. However, he did not return home till late at night. When repeatedly contacted on his mobile, he did not respond to the calls. On Sunday, early morning, we received a call from Ulwe police informing us that Pratik had jumped into the sea from Atal Setu and his SUV had been found on the bridge. Hence, I reached Ulwe police station, while the police and rescue teams continued the search operation in the sea. As he was not found, his missing complaint was lodged."

Jadhav said, "Pratik did not seem to be in a financial crisis, and he never discussed his profession and personal issues with the family. The reason for him to take such a drastic step has shocked the family members."


Arjun Rajane, senior inspector of Ulwe, said, "Our priority is to find the missing Pratik, who has apparently drowned in the sea. It is difficult to tell in which direction the body might have drifted. Still, coastal police teams are even searching for him along the banks of the Uran creek in case the body is washed ashore. Simultaneously, we are probing from all possible angles to find out the reason for Pratik to jump into the sea. Pratik even invested in stock market trading while conducting its classes. As he was not under financial crisis, the reason has been prima facie ruled out. Whether he was in a relationship will be probed to ascertain whether a breakup could be a reason for Pratik to take the drastic step. Hence, his mobile call data records will be obtained for further inquiry."

Need help? Contact, MPower Mental Health Helpline 1800-120-820050 or Ankahee Foundation’s helpline number 86-554 86-966