Curepe businessman found dead

PROMINENT Curepe businessman Ganesh Maharaj, 70, owner of Grand Central Billiards Hall, and close relative to General Secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Sat Maharaj, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest at his St Augustine home yesterday afternoon.

Police who visited the scene told Newsday that while suicide was strongly suspected, they were looking at “all angles”, and are awaiting the results of an autopsy to be done today. According to police reports, around 3.30 pm, Maharaj was at his home with his son, off the Eastern Main Road, St Augustine. His son later heard a loud explosion and when he ran to his father’s bedroom, found Maharaj slumped on his bed, bleeding from his chest.

A report was made to the St Joseph police and a team of officers led by Supt Leon Anthony and including ASP Errol Dillon, Homicide Bureau detectives Sgt Hendron Moses and Sgt Johnnie Abraham visited the scene. DMO Dr Vinod Mahabir arrived shortly afterwards, viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary. An autopsy will be done at the Forensic Sciences Centre. Maharaj, a father of four and grandfather of 12, survived three heart attacks and was said to be ailing for some time. His wife died about five years ago. Family members were too distraught to speak to Newsday. A licensed pistol was found near Maharaj’s body and was seized by the police.