Pradeep, the deceased, had left behind a note that named Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali and five others as the reason for his decision.
Published Jan 03, 2023 | 8:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 03, 2023 | 8:40 PM
Congress leaders Siddaramaiah_Randeep Surjewala_Ramalinga Reddy at the deceased house. (Siddaramaiah/Twitter)
Congress leaders on Tuesday, 3 January, demanded the arrest of Karnataka BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali and five others in connection with the alleged suicide of a businessman.
The deceased purportedly left behind an eight-page note that named the Mahadevapura MLA and five others as the reason for his decision.
Following the discovery of the death note, an FIR was registered against them by the police.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala, along with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) working president Ramalinga Reddy, met Pradeep’s family at their residence in Bengaluru.
They urged the state government to ensure justice for the businessman’s family, shortly after.
Pradeep S (47) was found dead in his car at Nettigere, Bengaluru, on Sunday. He had allegedly shot himself in the head inside his car.
ಉದ್ಯಮಿ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ದುರದೃಷ್ಟಕರ. ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣರಾದ ಶಾಸಕ ಅರವಿಂದ ಲಿಂಬಾವಳಿ ಸಹಿತ ಇತರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಆರೋಪಿಗಳನ್ನು ಈ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಬಂಧಿಸಿ, ನಿಷ್ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸುವಂತೆ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಆದೇಶ ನೀಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @BSBommai ಅವರನ್ನು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. 1/7 pic.twitter.com/SmvtzjZdxX
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2023
“This is an unfortunate incident linked to a financial deal. It should not have happened. Pradeep’s wife, Namita, said that her husband should get justice and that he had invested ₹1.5 crore in a financial deal. There was no profit from this. The family wants that money back,” Siddaramaiah said, speaking to reporters after meeting the family.
He said that as the MLA of the locality, Arvind Limbavali is said to have tried to settle things.
“Namita is not alleging anything. She is only saying that she wants justice and is not angry with anyone. But when the inference is drawn, six names are mentioned in the death note, which includes Limbavali’s name. If his name is taken, he is in some way responsible for Pradeep’s death, or else why would he mention it,” he added.
Noting that an FIR has been registered against Limbavali and five others, the Congress leader said that the police should immediately ensure that the financial issue is settled and that the family gets the money that was invested by the deceased.
ತನ್ನ ಪತಿಯ ಸಾವಿಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಸಿಗಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಲಮಾಡಿ ಹೂಡಿಕೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದ ಹಣವನ್ನು ವಾಪಾಸು ಕೊಡಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದು ಮೃತನ ಪತ್ನಿ ನಮಿತಾ ಅವರ ಮನವಿ.
ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಕ್ರಮವಹಿಸಿ, ಈ ಹಣವನ್ನು ವಾಪಾಸು ಕೊಡಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. 3/7— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2023
“Also, everyone should be arrested immediately and action should be taken in accordance with the law against those responsible for his death. The arrest should happen and a criminal trial should follow, and the police should ensure that the culprits are punished, whether it is an MLA or anyone else. A mistake is a mistake. Whoever it may be, they should be punished as per the law,” he said.
Siddaramaiah suggested that evidence may be destroyed by the accused if not arrested in time.
“The family even alleged that the police took their mobile phone late at night. Police trying to link different angles to the case now is not correct,” he said.
Referring to a similar case against then Minister KS Eshwarappa in connection with the death of a contractor, who made bribery charges against him, Siddaramaiah said that the case was closed and demanded that the government not interfere in the process of the law.
ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಮೃತನ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಕೊಡಿ ಎಂದು ಮಧ್ಯರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರ ಬಳಿ ಬಂದು ಕೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಾವಿಗೂ ಮುನ್ನ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಅವರು ಬರೆದ ಡೆತ್ ನೋಟ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾವಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣರಾದವರ ಹೆಸರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿರುವಾಗ ತನಿಖೆಯನ್ನು ಬೇರೆ ಆಯಾಮಗಳಿಗೆ ತಿರುಗಿಸುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವೇನಿದೆ? 5/7
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2023
“Many incidents of such suicides, mercy petitions are cropping up recently. It is because of corruption and inaction against the corrupt,” he alleged.
Limbavali, on his part, said that he had only tried to help Pradeep and was ready for any inquiry. “In fact, I demand an inquiry for the truth to come out,” Limbavali said.
He added that he is unaware of Pradeep’s motive behind mentioning his name in the death note and ruled out the possibility of any conspiracy against him.
ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಉದ್ಯಮಿ ಕಗ್ಗಲೀಪುರದ ಪ್ರದೀಪ್ ಅವರ ನಿವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಉಸ್ತುವಾರಿ ಎಐಸಿಸಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ @rssurjewala ಅವರ ಜೊತೆಗೂಡಿ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ, ಮೃತರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರಿಗೆ ಸಾಂತ್ವನ ಹೇಳಿದೆ. ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ @RLR_BTM ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಇನ್ನಿತರರು ನನ್ನೊಂದಿಗಿದ್ದರು. pic.twitter.com/wMalfFvYey
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2023
While talking to reporters, Surjewala stated that Pradeep was a victim of the “dubious corrupt practices” in the state and demanded that all perpetrators of this “murder” be arrested and that the government ensures that every penny is returned to the family.
“In this hour of grief and with a heavy heart, I have to say that the dubious deal and 40 percent commission is now claiming life after life in Karnataka,” Surjewala said, pointing to the recent deaths of contractors Santosh Patil and Suresh.
He stated that they died by suicide because of their financial troubles and that they couldn’t pay the commission.
ಈ ಹಿಂದೆ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಪಾಟೀಲ್ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಾಗ ಸೂಕ್ತ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸದೆ ಪ್ರಕರಣವನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಹಾಕಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಪ್ರಕರಣವು ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಆಗುವುದು ಬೇಡ.
ತನಿಖೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ @BJP4Karnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಹಸ್ತಕ್ಷೇಪ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. 6/7— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2023
Surjewala questioned why a legislator or a BJP leader was meddling in the financial affairs of people and negotiating settlements as judge and jury.
“Driving a 47-year-old happy man with a happy family to suicide is nothing but murder, it is not abetment to murder, it is plain and simple murder,” he stated.
Surjewala then assured that Congress will see to it that justice is served with regards to Pradeep’s suicide note so as to ensure that what happened with Santosh Patil’s suicide case doesn’t repeat.
3/4
When will Pradeep’s family get justice by decisive action on his suicide note?Why are BJP MLA’s forcing people like Pradeep to settle genuine claim of ₹2.22 CR for a pittance and driving them to suicide?
Isn’t CM Bommai protecting the guilty in this case? pic.twitter.com/cPwPUJPSEC
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 3, 2023
“We want to remind Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the raja dharma and his duty towards the people of Karnataka, which is above any BJP leader,” Surjewala said.
The Santosh Patil case, which both leaders repeatedly referred to, was regarding the death of a Belagavi-based contractor who was found dead at a hotel in Udupi in April last year. This happened weeks after accusing then-minister Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption.
(Disclaimer: Only the headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed)
