Viveka was not depressed, death not natural: Family claims

MUMBAI - Breaking their silence for the first time, the family members of former supermodel Viveka Babajee Thursday refuted rumours that she had ended her life due to depression and said it was “definitely not a case of natural death”.

Media reports said that the 37-year-old was depressed because of a failed relationship with boyfriend Gautam Vora, but at a press conference here, her family’s representative Dale Bhagwagar clarified that Babajee was not under “depression”.

“Two days before, she spoke to her mother. She was happy. There were no signs of depression, rather there was happiness and positivity that reflected during her last interaction with her mother,” Bhagwagar told reporters here.

This is the first time, Babajee’s family has come out and spoken about the model who hanged herself in her Bandra apartment June 25.

“Let the police interrogate and the family will see what actions can be taken as it is definitely not a case of natural death,” he added.

Talking about Babajee’s relationship with Vora, an investment consultant, who is said to be the last person who met Viveka, Bhagwagar said that the two were planning to get married.

“Her mother told me that Vora had proposed to Viveka and he had asked her to undergo a check up to ascertain if she can bear him kids and he was willing to accompany her to the doctor,” said Bhagwagar.

“Viveka had opted for going to the doctor alone, but they were serious about the marriage. Even their “kundalis” had matched,” he said.

So will Vora be held accountable for her suicide?

“Viveka had made Gautam speak to her family members… he came across as a very nice guy. He was seriously interested in marrying Viveka. So we can’t blame anyone,” said Bhagwagar.

According to Bhagwagar, the family is shocked and confused because they never thought that their daughter could take such an extreme step.

“The family is in great shock. They have been shying away from the media ever since they landed in India from Mauritius four days back,” said Bhagwagar.

“They are simple middle-class people who don’t want to be in the media glare. They are very sensitive, they don’t want to share their grief with the media. It is not important for them to interact with you, but to console each other,” he said.

“Media reports were leading to a lot of speculations and hence we decided to come out with this open press conference,” he added.

“For them, their daughter was a confident person who was doing well in life. All they are waiting for is for the police to give them cues so that they can decide what to do next,” he said.

Babajee shot to fame in the mid-1990s with the Kamasutra condom ad campaign. Her autopsy report, received by the police Saturday, has confirmed that she committed suicide.