Contractor ends life, blames BBMP for not clearing his bills

A vehicle contractor committed suicide by consuming poison at his house in Rajajinagar 5th Block on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, reportedly because the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) failed to clear his bills.

Maregowda, 70, was found dead in his bedroom on Friday morning. Police found a suicide note in which he has blamed three BBMP officials and his estranged wife Janaki for driving him to the drastic step.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Magadi Road police station said, “Maregowda, in his death note, has named executive engineer Dharmendra, assistant executive engineer Mahadeva and first division clerk Shanthamma. He also held his wife Janaki responsible, saying that she tortured him badly (sic).” Maregowda was upset that the BBMP officials failed to clear his bills over the last nine months despite his repeated requests, the SHO added.

In the purported suicide note, Maregowda said that he had rented 120 transport vehicles to the BBMP which owed him Rs 37 lakh. But the Palike failed to pay his bills while private moneylenders kept harassing him for repayment.

Maregowda said he found the “torture” unbearable and decided to end his life. The SHO said that the matter was being investigated and action would be taken against those named in the suicide note.

Sources in the BBMP, however, disputed that Maregowda’s bills were not cleared. They said Rs 27 lakh was deposited in his bank account just on Thursday and suggested that he committed suicide over personal problems.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad has ordered the Palike’s special commissioner (administration) to probe the matter, and promised action against officials if they were found guilty.