A 28-year-old man studying for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exams took his own life at his rented room in Pune on Wednesday, according to police. The man, Prathamesh Deshmukh, hailed from Khasapuri village in the Paranda tehsil of Dharashiv district. He had moved to Pune four years ago to prepare for competitive exams, including the MPSC.
Zone 1 DCP Krushikesh Rawale said Deshmukh was under significant financial strain, having borrowed close to Rs 2.50 lakh from various people. His family, too, was struggling financially.
Police believe a combination of financial hardship and repeated failure to clear the exams may have pushed him toward the extreme step. A case of suicide has been registered, and an investigation is underway. The death comes at a time when MPSC aspirants across Pune and other parts of Maharashtra have been protesting for several days, calling for the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary over an alleged paper leak linked to the Drug Inspector (Group B) exam under the Food and Drug Administration. Reacting to the news, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke tied Deshmukh’s death to broader problems in the exam system — irregularities, delays, uncertainty, and a lack of accountability. He pointed out that many students leave home and live on tight budgets, spending whatever their families can spare on rent, coaching, and repeated attempts at these exams.
