Two days after he was reported missing from London, the body of actor Paul Bhattacharjee was found near Splash Point cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex. He was 53 at the time of his death.
Bhattacharjee, known for playing Inzamam Ahmed in EastEnders from 2008 to 2010 and appearing in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, had last been seen leaving rehearsals at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square on July 10, 2013. His body was discovered on July 12 and formally identified on July 17.
An inquest later heard that he died by suicide after jumping from the cliff, having been declared bankrupt on July 9. His partner, Emma McKie, told the court she had been unaware of the bankruptcy until she opened letters in his flat after his death.
Final text to partner
McKie recounted in a statement that she last saw Bhattacharjee on July 10, when he said he had a bad stomach. She called him that evening around 7pm to say she was heading home, and he replied that he would be very late and she should have dinner without him. At 9.16pm, she received a final message: "I'm sorry".
Describing him as a "proud" man, McKie said: "I do believe that Paul would take his own life. I knew about his past and the pain inside him, and I could see it in his eyes. He had a darkness inside him that was irreparable."
She added: "He would not have wanted to let me down or hurt me or his friends. The bankruptcy was the final straw after a life of major highs and lows."
Discovery and identification
Bhattacharjee lived in Elephant and Castle and was last seen leaving rehearsals for Alistair McDowall's play Talk Show at the Royal Court. On the evening of July 12, a passer-by reported what appeared to be a body below the cliffs at Splash Point, and it was recovered from the scene.
Initial attempts to identify the man made no progress. On July 17, a colleague of coroner's officer Karen Brown encountered an online article about Bhattacharjee's disappearance, prompting Sussex Police to contact the Metropolitan Police. The body was confirmed as his later that day.
Inquest and cause of death
A post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr David Wright concluded the actor died from multiple injuries. Toxicologist Andrew Smith of Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital found no evidence of drugs and recorded a low blood alcohol reading of 42mg per 100ml.
Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of suicide, telling Eastbourne Magistrates' Court: "There isn't scope at all in this case and therefore the conclusion of this inquest will be that Gautam Paul Bhattacharjee took his own life whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed." He added: "He was extremely depressed at the time. This was a huge tragedy for a lot of people."
The inquest also heard that an anonymous letter had been received which stated Bhattacharjee's death was deliberate and linked it "wholly and entirely" to his bankruptcy. McKie's statement described him as a "protective man" who could not have handled the bankruptcy becoming public knowledge.
Detective Sergeant David Tye of Sussex Police said there was no indication that anyone else was involved in the actor's death.
Bhattacharjee's other television and film credits included Dirty Pretty Things, Waking the Dead, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Spooks, The Bill and White Teeth.
For emotional support, the Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day on 116 123, or by emailing jo@samaritans.org.
