25-year-old Rajat Kumar, who saved the life of Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant after a car accident in 2022, attempted suicide by consuming poison along with his girlfriend. The incident came to light on February 9 in Buchcha Basti, a village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Kumar and his 21-year-old girlfriend Manu Kashyap allegedly consumed poison as their families opposed their relationship. Manu died during treatment, while Rajat's condition remains critical, who is battling for life in the hospital.
Their families refused to accept their relationship due to caste differences and arranged their marriage elsewhere. This led to them taking the step of suicide. After Manu Kashyap's death, her mother has alleged that Rajat Kumar kidnapped her daughter and poisoned her.
Rajat Kumar came into the limelight when he, along with another local resident Nishu Kumar, saved Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant from a fatal car accident in December 2022. Pant was travelling from Delhi to Uttarakhand when his Mercedes collided with a divider near Roorkee and caught fire.
Two young men working in a nearby factory witnessed the accident and rushed to help. They pulled Rishabh Pant out of the burning car and arranged for emergency medical aid. Their quick action was widely praised, and in appreciation of their bravery, Pant later gifted them scooters as a token of appreciation. Pant recovered and returned to cricket the following year.
