Karnataka government employee’s suicide over ’forced corruption’ sparks row

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 28, 2024: A 50-year-old government employee with Karnataka’s Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation has allegedly died by suicide, blaming his senior officials for forcing him into a Rs 187 crore fund misappropriation, police said on Tuesday.

 

Chandrasekaran P, a superintendent of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC), wrote a six-page suicide note before hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Shivamogga on Sunday evening.

According to the police, Chandrasekaran died by suicide due to pressure regarding an alleged misappropriation of around Rs 87 crore and blamed two department officials -- JG Padmanabha and Parashuram -- the Managing Director and an accountant with the Scheduled Tribes Corporation. He also named Shuchita, the Chief Manager of the Union Bank of India branch in Bengaluru, in his suicide letter.

Chandrasekaran P, in the letter, also said that he was ’harassed’ by his colleagues who allegedly used him for "misappropriation of funds for personal gains", police said.

The police officials who spoke to news agency PTI stated that Chandrasekaran accused his senior officers of forcing him to open a parallel bank account to divert unaccounted money from the corporation’s account.

The suicide note further claimed that he was directed by a minister and an officer to open a "sweep-in and sweep-out account" with the Union Bank, which allowed customers to transfer funds between savings and current accounts, the police officer added.

The suicide has led to a loud political row in the state with the BJP targeting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

“Chandrashekhar died by suicide. Before his death, he revealed the truth in a note. In the note, he named three government officials and mentioned the word ’minister’. He stated that he had done everything under the directions of the minister. He specifically mentioned that on the silent instructions of the minister, he transferred 187 crores. After revealing the truth, he died by suicide. This incident exposed significant corruption,” Channabasappa, the BJP MLA from Shivamogga, said.

BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka alleged, “This murderer Congress government has harassed an officer, and he had written a death note and committed suicide when he was implicated in a huge corruption worth 187 crore rupees in Valmiki Development Corporation.”

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Navarare, this is not suicide, but a murder. Who is responsible for this? How many more lives must be sacrificed to your government’s thirst for commission?" he asked.

Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra alleged that Congress leaders were indulging in corruption under the guise of working for Dalits and tribal communities.

"The Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department Minister B Nagendra should be dismissed from the cabinet immediately and I demand a transparent investigation into the officer’s death," he posted on X in Kannada.

Meanwhile, the police said that they have filed an FIR against three government officials for abetment of suicide (IPC Section 306). Further investigation into the case is underway.

Courtesy: India Today