Karnataka govt orders CID probe into official's suicide

BENGALURU/SHIVAMOGGA: The state govt on Tuesday ordered a CID probe into the circumstances surrounding the alleged death by suicide of 50-year-old Chandrasekaran P, an accounts superintendent with the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

An FIR has been lodged against KMVSTDC managing director JG Padmanabha, along with two other govt officials, Durganna and Suchismita, who are currently at large, even as opposition BJP and JD(S) took strong objection to the exclusion of ST welfare minister B Nagendra's name from the FIR.

Announcing the probe, home minister G Parameshwara said the primary objective of the investigation is to determine the factors leading to the death and to adopt appropriate action based on the findings. On Sunday evening, Chandrasekaran, 50, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence.

In a six-page death note, he had accused three of his senior colleagues of being responsible for his death, claiming harassment over alleged misappropriation of corporation funds to the tune of Rs 87 crore through various bank transactions for personal gains.

He also claimed his seniors had compelled him to establish a parallel bank account to divert unaccounted for funds from the corporation's primary account.

In the note, Chandrasekaran also alleged that he was instructed by a minister and an officer to open a "sweep-in and sweep-out account" at a bank branch on MG Road in Bengaluru, facilitating transfer of funds between savings and current accounts and linking fixed deposit accounts.

The decision to exclude scheduled tribes' welfare minister B Nagendra from the FIR has sparked furore among opposition BJP and JD(S). KMVSTDC comes under the minister's portfolio.

Former MLA and JD(S) vice-president KB Prasanna Kumar claimed the official who died had explicitly stated in his death note that he had acted in accordance with the minister's directives. "A few years ago, when similar allegations were made against former deputy CM KS Eshwarappa, Siddaramaiah, who was then the leader of opposition, had called for his resignation. However, police in Shivamogga have not included the minister's name [Nagendra] in the FIR this time, arguing that the deceased did not mention the minister in the suicide note," he said.

At a press conference, Nagendra tried to distance himself from the controversy, attributing the blame entirely to the senior officials. "Whoever is involved, regardless of influence, will face consequences," he said, adding that if the forensic report verifies the MD's involvement, suspension will follow.

Nagendra said the scam occurred during the transfer of funds between banks, amounting to nearly Rs 87 crore, with Rs 28 crore recovered so far. "We've engaged with the chairman and directors of Union Bank of India, all of whom have committed to refunding Rs 50 crore by Tuesday evening," the minister confirmed.

Meanwhile, CID conducted a spot inspection on Tuesday, seizing the purported suicide note and the deceased accounts officer's mobile phone for further probe.

Leader of the opposition R Ashoka and BJP state president BY Vijayendra have demanded that Siddaramaiah sack Nagendra from his cabinet to ensure a fair probe.


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