Neighbours Feared Manmeet Had COVID & Refused to Help, Says Friend

He was reportedly under a lot of debt.

Actor Manmeet Grewal committed suicide in his house in Navi Mumbai.

(Photo: Twitter)

TV actor Manmeet Grewal, who was seen in shows such as Aadat Se Majboor and Kuldeepak, committed suicide at his residence in Navi Mumbai on Friday, 15 May, night. The actor was burdened by debt and couldn’t find any work due to lockdown.

Speaking to Times of India, Manmeet’s close friend Manjit Singh said that people refused to even touch his body because they feared he might be suffering from coronavirus. “The evening he killed himself, he looked quite normal. When Manmeet suddenly closed his room’s door and his wife heard a chair fall, she rushed inside to find him hanging. Upon screaming for help, her neighbours gathered inside their house but nobody came forward to help her or even touch Manmeet or cut the dupatta that he used because they feared he might be suffering from COVID-19. His wife repeatedly pleaded that Manmeet wasn’t a coronavirus patient, but to no avail”, said Manjit.

Manjit also said that after almost two-and-a-half hours the ambulance came, but even after reaching the hospital the doctor refused to touch him. “He instead asked Manmeet’s wife to pump on his chest with both her hands”.

Manjit added that the people from the Khargar Gurudwara helped the family perform Manmeet’s last rites. “The main person from the Gurudwara sent his car and helped us with the hospital, police station and even the last rites. They even touched Manmeet’s body without being scared of being infected by coronavirus”.

The 32-year-old actor was found hanging in the bedroom by his wife who tried to save him on Sunday. However, he was declared brought dead by the hospital.

According to Spotboye, his friend Manjit Singh had earlier said, “He was very normal that evening, went to his room and locked it from inside. That time his wife was in the kitchen making food. When she heard the noise of a chair, she rushed to the bedroom and held him.”

His wife, Ravindra Kaur told the police that he had also talked about moving abroad but that plan was on hold due to the lockdown. She added that he had been in stress for the last few days as many of his upcoming projects including a web series and some commercials were on hold.

(With inputs from Times of India)

(If you are suicidal or know anyone in distress, reach out to the numbers of local emergency services, helplines, and mental health NGOs here.)