Chikka Venakateshagowda of Betamangala village is the deceased. According to police, Gowda was a farm equipment dealer. When a contractor, who owed him Rs 15 lakh, refused to give the sum, Gowda came to the Vidhana Soudha on July 2 in order to petition the Chief Minister. When he could not meet the latter, a depressed Gowda consumed poison in the toilet adjacent to Room No 331 on Vidhana Soudha’s third floor.

He was rushed to the Bowring Hospital where he was in coma, police said. The deceased had supplied farm equipment to Veerendraswamy, a City contractor for Rs 75 lakh. While Gowda was paid Rs 60 lakh, he was yet to get the remaining sum.

He told the Vidhana Soudha police that a complaint in this regard was lodged with Ulsoor and Whitefield police stations. Two separate cases relating to abetment to suicide have been filed against Veerendraswamy, police said.