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Karnataka MP Channareddy Tannur. (Photo: Social Media)
On a complaint by Parushalam's wife Shwetha NV, the MLA and his son were charged with intentional insult, intent to incite breach of peace, abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability.
The police on Saturday registered a case against Congress MLA Channareddy Tannur and his son Pampanagouda Tannur, a Dalit sub-inspector who allegedly committed suicide within seven months of his transfer.
As the issue snowballed into a major controversy, the state government handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), senior sources in the home ministry told PTI.
Based on a complaint by Parushalam's wife Shwetha NV, the MLA and his son were charged with intentional insult, intent to incite breach of peace, abetment to suicide and joint criminal liability.
She alleged that the father and son demanded Rs 30 lakh from her husband if he would continue to stay in the same place.
Shwetha said Parashuram had been in tears since he was transferred and told her that he was having suicidal thoughts.
When a pregnant Shwetha went to her parents' house in Raichur for the delivery, she learned that Parashuram was hospitalized with bleeding from his nose and mouth.
Following the incident, members of the Dalit Sangarh Samiti (DSS) held a demonstration and blocked the road, demanding justice for Parashuram. Shwetha also joined the ranks of the agitators.
She told the media that the police department supported the MLA, not her husband.
“The department itself is not with him today. Instead, it supports the MLA. It supports those who squander money. It pays him and supports him. How much do you want to give him? Will you groom the MLA? Are you working day and night for the MLA? You work so hard and ignore your parents and your family? This MLA is responsible for this but he has not come here yet. We want justice,” Shwetha said.
Traffic was severely affected due to the riots.
Reacting to the incident, Home Minister Parameshwara said that he had ordered a thorough investigation into the case.
However, he ruled out suicide.
“He (Parashuram) did not commit suicide. He did not write any death note. His wife complained that she was facing transfer problems. I will consider his allegations. An investigation will be conducted in this regard,” the minister told reporters in Bengaluru.
He said the police were collecting preliminary information and conducting investigations.
The incident took a political turn, with the opposition BJP and JD(S) slamming the government for forcing sincere officials to commit suicide.
“A police sub-inspector from your community committed suicide. Why did he do that? His wife alleged that he took the extreme step because he did not pay a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to the MLA,” Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy said in a statement on Jan. The JD(S) said this at the launch of the 'Mysuru Chalo' march jointly organized in Bengaluru.
He wondered if Parameshwara would pay tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar in this way.
In his response, Parameshwara said he was following the law and not the community.
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders earlier said that Chandrasekharan P, accounting director of Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, committed suicide.
In his suicide note, Chandrasekharan explained the illegal transfer of Rs 187 crore, which led to the arrest of former minister B Nagendra and 12 other government and Union Bank of India officials.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
