Death-leap banker had 'offended client'

The London banker who leapt to his death from a restaurant terrace was being investigated for offending a client, it has been claimed.

Anjool Malde is believed to have impersonated the client on a financial website, posting the
message, "I am hot, I am hot" as a joke.

Investigators think the remark was a reference to his client, who works for a hedge fund management firm, being on a successful investment run. But the client did not find it humorous and made a formal complaint to the company which runs the discussion forum.

It led to Mr Malde's employers, Deutsche Bank, launching an internal investigation and sending the banker home early on Friday.

Although his friends have said that he appeared untroubled, Mr Malde jumped from the top of the eight-storey Coq d'Argent restaurant at No 1 Poultry on Sunday, four days before he was due to celebrate his 25th birthday. He was wearing his best Hugo Boss suit and holding a glass of champagne.

He is thought to have feared he would be fired because three people in his department had been made redundant. He had also been reprimanded for sending an email promoting his alphaparties events firm from his work computer.

A source said: "On the face of it, it's a trivial incident. But in the City, issues which involve potential loss of money or reputation are taken seriously."

Mr Malde's friends held a memorial last night at what would have been his birthday party in Soho.