(Trinidad Guardian) A pool lime at an upscale residential complex in Moka, Maraval ended in tragedy early yesterday when the 30-year-old son of a prominent Arima businessman fell to his death. Mahindra Maharaj, son of owner of BK Hardware, Bindra Maharaj, of Calvary Hill, in Arima, fell about 60 feet over the verandah of No 10 The Hamlet at St Andrew’s Golf Course Road. Police investigators said Maharaj was liming with friends around the swimming pool around 1.30 am when the incident occurred. According to police, Maharaj, who would have celebrated his 31st birthday on October 5, was sitting on the verandah near the pool when he slipped and fell backwards. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The autopsy results revealed Maharaj died of a ruptured vein. Detectives said the swimming pool had no barrier. Police said Maharaj and his friends were having drinks. Detectives said they interviewed several guests about the circumstances surrounding the incident. In an interview yesterday, the elder Maharaj maintained that his son’s death was an accident. He said his son, who had a section in next year’s Carnival band YUMA, had attended a meeting with friends earlier in the day at the band’s headquarters in Port-of-Spain. He said after the meeting his son, cousins and friends were out liming after which they went to Moka. The businessman said he was told that when his son came out of the pool he slid on the tiles. He tried to brake his fall but slipped backward on the ledge and fell off.
The elder Maharaj said it was not a pool party. Mahindra, who had a degree in international marketing and was his parents’ first child, worked in the family’s hardware store for some time. He also assisted his father with the family construction business. Mahindra’s funeral takes place tomorrow at 10 am at the family’s home after which he will be cremated on the banks of the Caroni River. Acting Cpl John and Marceil of the Maraval Police Station visited the scene.
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