Jharkhand Techie’s Death in Bengaluru: Evidence Points to Depression

Bengaluru (IANS): Bengaluru police are investigating the death of Pooja Datta, a 34-year-old software engineer from Jharkhand, after discovering her semi-decomposed body in her Adugodi rental home on Monday night. While preliminary findings suggest the techie suffered from severe depression, investigators continue to probe all angles, including the possible involvement of a frequent male visitor.

A Year of Isolation

The investigation reveals that Datta, a native of Hirapur near Dhanbad, resigned from her private-sector job a year ago. Following her resignation, she systematically cut off contact with the outside world:

• Digital Silence: She switched off her primary phone, changed her SIM card, and avoided all contact with family and friends for over a year.
• Expired Credentials: The validity of her new SIM card lapsed three months ago, and neighbours reported they had not seen her during that time.
• Mental Health Indicators: Inside the residence, police found sticky notes pasted across the walls featuring words like “solo,” “love,” “trust,” and “ego”. Investigators believe these writings, along with other notes on the walls, indicate she was battling severe depression.

Suspicious Circumstances and a Mystery Visitor

Despite the signs of depression, certain details have raised suspicions of foul play. The house owner, Janakamma, informed police that a young man frequently visited Datta and that the two often argued. Police are currently analysing CCTV footage to identify this individual.

When police broke into the home on April 27 following reports of a foul stench, they found Datta lying in a pool of blood with clothes scattered and the ceiling fan still running. However, officials noted they have found no definitive evidence of murder thus far.

Family Background

Datta’s family members, who travelled to Bengaluru on Wednesday, confirmed she had struggled significantly since losing her husband during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because Datta’s mother is currently unwell, the family decided to perform the final rites in Bengaluru rather than returning the body to Jharkhand.

Adugodi police have registered a case of suspicious death and await the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause and timing of her passing.