Datta Sopan Pawar, the accused in the vandalism and desecration of a replica of the Constitution in Parbhani, was found dead on Monday morning in a room on his farmland at Mirzapur village. Police said Pawar was found hanging, and the case is being treated as a suspected suicide.
The incident occurred just four days after Pawar was released on bail, following nearly 13 months in judicial custody. He had been arrested in connection with the desecration of a Constitution replica placed near the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in December 2024, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and unrest across Maharashtra.
Body found in farmland room
According to police, local residents grew suspicious after noticing that the door of a small room on Pawar’s farmland remained closed for an unusually long time on Monday morning. They alerted authorities, following which a police team reached the spot, broke open the door and found Pawar hanging from a ceiling hook.
The body was immediately taken down and sent for post-mortem examination. A panchnama was conducted at the site, and an accidental death report has been registered. Further investigation is underway.
Bail after prolonged custody
Pawar had been lodged in jail for nearly 13 months. His bail was facilitated through free legal aid after no family member came forward to stand surety. Though the court had granted bail in November 2025, he was released only on January 7, 2026, on a personal bond, following a fresh bail order.
Parbhani Superintendent of Police Ravindrasingh Pardeshi said Pawar may have been under severe mental stress. “Since his arrest, he had been in custody for a long period. He was released recently and returned to his village. Preliminary information suggests he may have been depressed,” the SP said.
Mental health concerns emerge
Officials said Pawar had been undergoing psychiatric treatment during his incarceration. His family circumstances were also reportedly strained, with his wife and two children living separately in different villages in Pune district. After his release, Pawar had been staying alone in Mirzapur for the past few days.
The vandalism case had sparked massive protests, political reactions and violence in Parbhani and other parts of the state, prompting heightened police deployment and strict law-and-order measures at the time.