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Trigger warning: This article contains details from the victim’s suicide note

A shocking incident has emerged from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where a 23-year-old lawyer allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the fifth floor of a court building on April 23, 2026. In his final request, he stated that his father should not be allowed to touch his body during the last rites.

The victim has been identified as Priyanshu Shrivastava, a lawyer practising in Kanpur. He left a detailed suicide note, which he posted on his WhatsApp story, citing his father’s excessive harshness and verbal abuse over the years as the reason behind his death.

He cited several childhood incidents that left a lasting impact on him, ultimately leading him to take such a drastic step. Shrivastava shared experiences from his childhood and other factors that affected him emotionally, pointing to his father’s excessive strictness. He accused his father of humiliation, verbal abuse, and mental torture.

He recounted a significant incident from his life when he was six years old and had to face extreme humiliation over a glass of mango juice. In his suicide note, he wrote, “I was just six years old when I took mango juice from the refrigerator without asking anyone. For this, I was stripped and sent out of the house.” He further noted that he understands the need for parents to be strict, but added that they should not be so strict that “they feel suffocated.” “I tried a lot to move on and live my life, but I don't think it is worth it,” Shrivastava wrote.

He shared how his father would constantly question him, even about trivial matters that had no real significance. He wrote, “I don't think I can live with this anymore.”

According to officials, he shared a two-page note citing traumatic experiences from his past that led him to take his own life shortly before his death. A large crowd gathered at the scene. Priyanshu Shrivastava was immediately taken to the Ursula Horsman Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.

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The victim also shared how his choices were taken away from him during his school years. He wrote that he wanted to opt for physical education but was forced to take computer science instead. He added that he was tired of his father’s constant interference in his life, with questions about where he was going and whom he was talking to. He described his father’s behaviour as “suffocating.” Shrivastava also urged parents to refrain from putting excessive pressure on their children.

As his final request, he wrote, “Don’t let my father touch my body. I wish no one gets a father like this. I lost, Papa won.”

Despite making these allegations against his father, he stated that no one else should be blamed for his actions and requested that his mother not be held responsible. The police have taken his phone and reviewed CCTV footage to examine any other factors that may have led him to take his own life. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Satyajeet Gupta stated that the police are examining the suicide note left by Shrivastava, along with all digital evidence, as part of the investigation.

[VS]

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