Mumbai, Nov 14 (Mid Day): Barely a month before the expected birth of his first child, a 32-year-old constable shot and killed himself with his service revolver at his residence in Borivli (West) yesterday afternoon.

Police said the constable, Ketan Pathade, attached with the police protection branch, had got married a year ago and his wife is eight months pregnant. Police found a suicide note from the residence, which said nobody was responsible for his death.

Pathade also said in the suicide note that he really loved his wife and apologised to her for taking the drastic step. According to police officials, Pathade was a resident of Siddhivinayak Society near Don Bosco school in Borivli (West), and his wife had been living with her parents in MHB colony in the same suburb since a few days in view of her impending delivery.

Three days before his suicide, Pathade had also celebrated his wife’s baby shower at his in-laws’ house. Pathade had been living alone in the Siddhivinayak Society house and when he didn’t answer his phone despite repeated calls yesterday, his wife asked neighbours to check on him. When neighbours entered the house, they found Pathade dead on the bed in the hall. They informed the Borivli police, who rushed to the spot.

“The couple had an arranged marriage one year ago and had shifted to the Siddhivinayak Society house around June. According to neighbours, Pathade loved his wife a lot and was very happy with her, but had been depressed and lonely since she had gone to live with her parents. A family matter seems to be the reason for the suicide,” said a police official.

Senior inspector Narayan Khaire from Borivli police station said, “We found a suicide note from the residence in which Pathade said he loved his wife a lot and apologised to her for ending his life.” Police recovered Pathade’s service revolver from his residence and sent his body for postmortem.