In a deeply tragic incident, a 25-year-old Chartered Accountant, Dheeraj Kansal, was found dead at an Airbnb guest house in Delhi’s Gol Market area on Monday, in what police believe is the first reported case of suicide through helium inhalation in the capital.
Kansal had checked into the accommodation on Bazaar Lane near Bengali Market on July 20 and was scheduled to leave on July 28. When he failed to check out as expected, the property owner sensed a foul smell near the room and immediately alerted the authorities.
Upon reaching the scene and breaking open the door, the Delhi Police found Kansal’s lifeless body lying on the bed. A pipe was found attached to a helium cylinder, with the other end inserted into his mouth. His face and neck were wrapped in a transparent plastic sheet, consistent with an attempt to ensure the gas was effectively inhaled, police sources said.
Disturbing Discovery and Notes Left Behind
Chartered Accountant reportedly left behind handwritten suicide notes as well as a detailed Facebook post, in which he explained his decision and clearly requested that no one be held responsible for his death. The police said he may have written both notes as a precaution, stating in his Facebook post that the handwritten one was “just in case the post gets deleted.”
In his emotional online message, expressed gratitude to everyone in his life, emphasizing that his choice was made of his own free will.
“This was my choice alone. Every single person who I met in my life was really kind to me. So I request the police and government to please don’t disturb anyone because of this,” he wrote.
Chartered Accountant also requested that his money be donated to an orphanage or old-age home, and that his organs be donated if possible. “I want to thank all of you. I am not going to say any names because I don’t want any of you to get in trouble,” he added, revealing a disturbed yet thoughtful state of mind in his final message.
Police Investigation Underway(Chartered Accountant)case
Initial findings indicate that Chartered Accountant may have ordered the helium cylinder online, reportedly from an e-commerce site in Ghaziabad. The authorities have sent the body to Lady Hardinge Medical College for postmortem and are also examining his mobile phone and social media activity to further understand the sequence of events and motive.
According to the police, there were no signs of forced entry or struggle, reinforcing the belief that this was a planned suicide. The scene, including the helium setup and the plastic wrapping, appeared carefully arranged, and Kansal’s digital footprint is now a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
Born into a middle-class family, Chartered Accountant had endured personal loss early in life. He lost his father in 2002, and following that, his mother remarried. From then on, he was raised by his grandparents, police sources said.
Despite professional achievements—qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, a rigorous and competitive process in India—those close to him suggest he may have been quietly grappling with emotional or mental health issues.
A Rare and Alarming Method
Suicides using helium gas are rare in India, though more common in some Western countries due to the gas’s ability to cause painless asphyxiation. This incident marks the first such reported case in Delhi, prompting concerns over access to such materials online and the growing need for mental health support among young professionals.
As the investigation continues, this case has left many stunned—not only because of the unusual method used, but also due to the apparent calm, clarity, and solitude with which Kansal carried out his final act.
