Karnataka has formed a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged suicide of a state government employee after being forced into a Rs 87 crore fund misappropriation. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case based on a complaint by the Union Bank of India.
The SIT is being headed by Additional Director General of Police, Manish Kharbikar of the Economic Offences division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The other three members are Shivaprakash Devaraju (DCP, South traffic division, Bengaluru), Hariram Shankar (Superintendent of Police- Intelligence) and Raghavendra K Hegde (Superintendent of Police, CID, Bengaluru).
The team has already arrested Managing Director of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC), JG Padmanabha and accountant Parashuram. The two names were mentioned in the six-page suicide note of Chandrasekaran P, a superintendent of the Corporation.
On Sunday evening, the 50-year-old Chandrasekaran was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home in Shivamogga district.
In the suicide note, he alleged taking the drastic step due to pressure emanating from an alleged misappropriation of money and blamed Padmanabha and Parashuram. He also named Shuchita, Chief Manager of the Union Bank of India branch in Bengaluru.
Following his death, the Valmiki Development Corporation filed an FIR against top Union Bank of India officials over the embezzlement of Rs 88 crore.
Based on this, a criminal case was registered.
However, the Union Bank of India also filed a complaint with the CBI on May 30, in which it classified all the financial transactions in question as fraudulent.
In a statement, the bank announced the suspension of three officials and said its complaint was to ensure a thorough investigation and swift identification of the culprits.
On Saturday, BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a CBI inquiry into the official’s suicide, as well as financial irregularities in the Valmiki Development Corporation.
“Honest officials are put under relentless pressure to co-operate in graft, bribery and financial fraud. Whenever Congress is in power, many self-respecting government officials have committed suicide alleging severe coercion, pressure from senior officials, Ministers and other decision makers,” Yatnal said.
“Chandrasekaran committed suicide due to pressure from a Minister and senior officials of the Corporation to swindle money and transfer it to other accounts. Chandrasekaran, an honest and upright officer, was subject to severe pressure from its (Corporation_ higher ups and a Minister,” he added.
The MLA’s letter came a day after BJP leader R Ashoka demanded the resignation of Karnataka minister B Nagendra and said the party will stage a state-wide protest if the latter is not removed from his position by June 6.
He also stated that he would not allow the Assembly session to function if the minister isn’t dismissed.
Meanwhile, the BJP Leader of Opposition alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also involved in the scam and the funds were transferred to Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
