Let Nafisa rest in peace: Ex-fiancé

Gautam Khanduja, businessman and ex-fiancé of former Miss India Nafisa Joseph, on Saturday told the Mumbai police that he had temperamental differences with the beauty queen and that is why he called off their marriage, slated for August 7.

Nafisa committed suicide on Thursday night at her residence in Versova in suburban Mumbai.

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In a statement to the police, Khanduja said that he and Nafisa were going steady for nearly one-and-a-half years.

In a four-hour session, Khanduja, accompanied by his lawyer Dipesh Mehta, also told the police that Nasifa was upset over his decision to call off the marriage. He also narrated a few instances to describe their relationship.

Later, in a signed statement, Khanduja reacted to media reports, saying it was incorrect that he was not divorced. He said he was divorced on February 10, 2003.

"Over the past two days various reports in the media have speculated on the cause of Nafisa's suicide. I have chosen not to respond to any of these reports that sully the memory of our precious relationship except to say that they are entirely misleading," he said.

"My silence so far has been nothing more than my overwhelming grief at the loss of someone I love so deeply and to whom I was engaged.

"My privacy has been invaded, my integrity questioned and my family and I have not been given an opportunity to mourn in private.

"I have today made an official statement to the police in order to assist with their inquiries.

"The truth is known to all those who knew both of us. This is the most tragic thing that could have happened to all of us who loved her. I only ask that she be allowed to rest in peace and all of us be allowed to mourn," he said.

The police were earlier trying to locate Gautam to record his statement.

Gautam's lawyer said they would assist the police in every way and be available for questioning.

Usha Joseph, Nafisa's mother, had on Friday claimed that the model-turned-VJ had been upset over her problems with Gautam.

With inputs from the Press Trust of India