The automobile engineer had flown from Dubai to Mangaluru on Sunday and reportedly left a note for his mother.
A 24-year-old Indian expat based in Dubai, whose younger sister died by suicide in June while preparing for the NEET re-examination, was found dead in a hotel room in Mangaluru, Karnataka, on Monday.
The death has left the Kerala family facing a second tragedy within two months.
Mangaluru City Police confirmed to Gulf News that Arjun R Mahesh, an automobile engineer, was found dead at a hotel near Mangaluru International Airport on Monday.
His younger sister, 19-year-old Ayja R Mahesh, was found hanging at her hostel in Pala, Kerala, on June 2. She was taken to a private hospital and later transferred to another facility, where she died on June 3, according to Indian media reports.
Police recover note addressed to mother
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said a brief note was recovered from the hotel room where Arjun was found.
According to reports quoting the commissioner, the note began with the words, “Amma (mother), I’m sorry,” and asked that some of Arjun’s friends be informed of his death.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. Investigators are also examining whether Arjun had been struggling with the loss of his sister.
Her sister had been preparing for the NEET re-examination
Ayja had been preparing for the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21 after the National Testing Agency cancelled the original examination following a question paper leak.
Her mother had previously said Ayja was confident about her performance in the original examination but became deeply distressed after it was cancelled.
When the re-examination was announced, Ayja returned to her hostel in Pala, telling her family that she was unable to concentrate on her studies at home.
Her death on June 3 deeply affected the family.
Arjun had travelled from Dubai to Mangaluru.
Arjun had travelled to Kerala following his sister’s death before returning to Dubai for work.
According to relatives quoted by Onmanorama, he told close friends on Sunday that he was travelling home. He flew from Dubai to Mangaluru and spoke to his mother by phone at around 1 pm that day, but reportedly did not tell her that he had returned to India.
Later that afternoon, friends in Dubai informed the family that Arjun was travelling home.
When relatives were unable to reach him, they became concerned and began searching for him. Family members and neighbours travelled to Mangaluru and approached police for assistance. They reportedly searched several lodges through the night.
Arjun was found dead in a hotel near Mangaluru International Airport the following afternoon.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of his death.
Family faces second tragedy in two months
The deaths of the two siblings have left their family confronting two devastating losses within a short period.
Authorities have not established a definitive motive in Arjun’s death, and investigators are examining the circumstances, including the note recovered from the hotel room and his movements after arriving in Mangaluru.
The investigation remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, immediate support is available in India through Tele-MANAS at 14416.
Source: Gulf News
Arjun R Mahesh and Ayja R Mahesh Onmanorama
