Mandi BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma dies at 62; suicide suspected

Tribune News Service
Mandi, March 17

BJP MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh Ram Swaroop Sharma was found hanging from the ceiling in his official residence in New Delhi on Wednesday, police said.

Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said his body was found hanging from a ceiling fan. He was taken to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Sharma was allegedly suffering from severe depression and was under treatment for the last six months. He was alone at his house in Delhi as his wife was on the Char Dhaam pilgrimage. Sharma’s personal security officer was in Mandi.  

Also read: HP Assembly adjourned after MP Ram Swaroop Sharma’s demise

Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide, the police said, adding that no suicide note was found from the spot.

An inquiry is underway and the exact cause of his death will be ascertained after a post-mortem examination, the police said.

According to the police, a call was made to the Police Control Room (PCR) around 7.45 am by his aide after the parliamentarian did not respond to knocks on his door.

Also read: Ram Swaroop Sharma second Lok Sabha MP to die under mysterious circumstances in a month

A police team reached the spot and forced open the door and found Sharma handing from a ceiling fan. 

BJP cancelled its scheduled parliamentary party meeting in the wake of Sharma’s death. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informed the House about the demise of Sharma. Making the announcement, a grim Birla made obituary reference and adjourned the House till 1 pm.

Born at Jalpehar village in Mandi district on June 10, 1958, Sharma was a two-time MP.

He was elected to the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha from Mandi parliamentary constituency in 2014 and 2019 respectively.

Sharma was currently a Member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs.

He is survived by his wife and three sons. —with PTI