A government employee from Karnataka’s Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Chandrasekaran P, allegedly died by suicide, leaving behind a six-page note accusing senior officials of pressuring him into a Rs 187 crore fund misappropriation scheme. Chandrasekaran, a superintendent of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC), was found hanging at his residence in Shivamogga on Sunday evening.
In his suicide note, Chandrasekaran blamed JG Padmanabha and Parashuram, the Managing Director and an accountant of the KMVSTDC, respectively, as well as Shuchita, the Chief Manager of the Union Bank of India branch in Bengaluru. He alleged that he was harassed and coerced into participating in the misappropriation of funds for personal gains. Chandrasekaran also claimed he was instructed by a minister and an officer to open a "sweep-in and sweep-out account" with the Union Bank to divert unaccounted money from the corporation's account.
The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP accusing the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of significant corruption. BJP MLA Channabasappa from Shivamogga highlighted the note's reference to a minister and the specific instructions for transferring Rs 187 crores. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka termed the government's actions as harassment leading to Chandrasekaran's death and labeled it a murder rather than a suicide.
Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra called for the immediate dismissal of the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department Minister B Nagendra and demanded a transparent investigation into Chandrasekaran's death.
In response, the police have registered an FIR against the three named officials for abetment of suicide under IPC Section 306. The investigation into the circumstances and allegations surrounding Chandrasekaran’s death is ongoing.
