Karnataka Contractor Kills Self Alleging Extortion, Minister Priyank Kharge’s Aide Named In Note

The incident has sparked a political storm with allegations of abuse of power and negligence being leveled against Minister Priyank Kharge.

Karnataka BJP seized the opportunity to criticise Minister Kharge and accused him of being indirectly responsible for the increasing incidents of extortion and violence in Kalaburagi.

Source : Pixabay

A 26-year-old contractor died by suicide in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district on Thursday. The contractor, identified as Sachin, in his suicide note alleged threats and extortion by an aide of Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge. 

A seven-page suicide note left by the deceased named six individuals, including Raju Kapanuru, a former Kalaburagi City Corporation member and an alleged aide of Minister Kharge. Sachin accused Kapanuru of extorting Rs 15 lakh under the pretense of securing a tender and later demanding an additional Rs 1 crore, coupled with threats to his life. The note also mentions that Kapanuru and others had issued repeated threats which drove him to take the extreme step.

Reacting to the incident, Minister Kharge said, "I have no information about the background of Sachin Pancha's suicide case. The Railway Police has already registered a case, and investigative agencies will investigate effectively to uncover the truth of this case. Making false accusations is an old habit of the BJP, they have made baseless accusations against me in the past, they are still doing so, and they will continue to do so."

ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಬೀದರ್ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಯುವಕ ಸಚಿನ್ ಪಾಂಚಾಳರ ಸಾವು ದುರದೃಷ್ಟಕರವಾದುದು,
ಸಚಿನ್ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ದೊರಕಲಿ, ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬಸ್ಥರಿಗೆ ನೋವು ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ ಎಂದು ಆಶಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ಸಚಿನ್ ಪಾಂಚಾಳ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ಪ್ರಕರಣದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನನಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಈ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಸರಿಸಿರುವ ಆರೋಪಿಗಳ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಗಳು…

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) December 26, 2024

 

The Karnataka BJP seized the opportunity to criticise Minister Kharge and accused him of being indirectly responsible for the increasing incidents of extortion and violence in Kalaburagi. Demanding the resignation of the Minister, Karnataka BJP said, "Another contractor falls victim to Congress corruption! The incident of a contractor committing suicide in Bidar after a Congress minister's @PriyankKharge aide demanded commission money is worrisome. Contractors, police officers, and government employees are losing their lives due to a corrupt government."

Meanwhile, the victim's family demanded the immediate arrest of all accused.