Man Attempts Suicide By Setting Himself On Fire Outside Bombay High Court, Sustains 55% Burn Injuries

A regular Monday afternoon outside the Gate No. 4 of the Bombay High Court witnessed chaotic scenes after suddenly 53-year-old man started sloganeering against an advocate and the Collector of Kankavli city and soon poured petrol on his person and set himself ablaze.

The Police personnel stationed in the High Court, rushed to help the man identified as Prakash Sawant and somehow managed to douse the fire. He was immediately taken to the nearby Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) Hospital. According to doctors, treating Sawant, he has sustained 55 per cent burn injuries.

While speaking to Live Law, Sawant, an optometrist living in Virar, confirmed that there was a land dispute between him and his relatives and the land, on which he and his father claimed right, was acquired for some public project.

"We are yet to receive any compensation. I have filed multiple representations and complaints before authorities right from Mantralaya (State Secretariat) to the Office of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers and also that of the Prime Minister but I am yet to get justice," Sawant claimed.

In a pamphlet, which was found from the spot where Sawant was found sloganeering outside the Bombay High Court, he named the Collector of Kankavli and a female advocate, whom he allegedly paid Rs 6.80 lakhs in 2021 with respect to his land dispute case. However, there has been no development in the case and he alleged that the woman advocate duped him and thus he demanded his money back.

"I have filed multiple complaints against the advocate before the Bar Council and even the High Court had ordered her to pay back the money which she took from me. She has only paid Rs 6 lakhs and is yet to return Rs 80 thousand and the interest therein to me yet and thus, with no respite and justice, I took the extreme step to kill myself," Sawant told Live Law while getting treatment in the GT Hospital.