Under-trial alleges torture by in-laws, commits suicide

An under-trial prisoner committed suicide alleging torture by the family members of his wife. The under-trial in question, in fact, is behind the bars for killing his wife.

41-year-old Nagaraju shot a video selfie alleging torture by his in-laws and uploaded it on Facebook before ending his life.

Nagaraju, a resident of Banashankari III Stage, was under judicial custody for four years for allegedly killing his wife Jyothi.

Recently, Nagaraju was released on bail and was staying alone. On Saturday, neighbours sensed a putrid odour emanating from the house where he was put up and alerted the police control room. Soon after, C K Achukattu police rushed to the spot, broke open the doors and found Nagaraju's decomposed body hanging from the ceiling inside a room.

On the evening of January 30, Nagaraju recorded a video selfie alleging that his mother-in-law Rajamma and brother-in-law Harish were pestering and torturing him to register the house that belonged to him and his wife to their name.

As he could not bear the in-laws' torture, he decided to end his life, he said in the video selfie. In the video, Nagaraju also requested his sister Savitha to take care of his three girl children. He uploaded the video on January 31, Thursday around 3 pm before hanging himself.

According to the police, Nagaraju’s relatives noticed the video on Saturday afternoon. In a state of panic, they informed Savita. At the same time, police called Savitha and informed her that her brother committed suicide and that they had found his body at his house.

Savitha, meanwhile, told the police that her brother Nagaraju owned a sound systems shop - Nanjundeshwara Enterprises in Chamarajpet - and due to some family dispute he had killed his wife Jyothi. Nagaraju was remanded to judicial custody for the past four years.

After he realised his mistake, he was under depression, Savitha said. Nagaraju had constructed a house in Ittamadu. The house was registered under Nagaraju's and wife Jyothi’s name. After Jyothi's death, her mother and brother started torturing Nagaraju to register the house in their name. On January 30, Nagaraju had called Savitha and told her about the torture.

Police registered a case under IPC section 306 (abetment of suicide) against the in-laws.