JOIN USA debt-ridden businessman and his family entered into a suicide pact and consumed poison at their house in RT Nagar police station limits early Monday morning.
Police have identified the family members as K N Kumarappa, 49, his wife Kusuma, 42, their son Prajwal, 16 and daughter Sridevi, 12. The family resided at Seethappa Layout, Chamundinagar Main Road in RT Nagar. The members were rushed to Baptist Hospital where Sridevi died while others are battling for their lives, police added.
Kusuma is a housewife and Prajwal, a first year PU student. Sridevi was a high school student. The preliminary investigation revealed that Kumarappa was in huge debts.
Kumarappa, a milk businessman, hailed from Kirangadur village, Somawarpet taluk in Kodagu district. He moved to the City about 25 years ago and ventured into various businesses. He led a royal life before going bankrupt.
Kumarappa’s unscientific financial management landed him in financial crunch. He had borrowed loans up to Rs 40 lakh from various sources and failed to repay them as he had incurred huge loss in his business, police said.
He sold his house in the Seethappa Layout, his car and some other properties recently to overcome the crisis, but it was not sufficient, police said.
Early Monday morning, a goods vehicle loaded with milk sachets reached Kumarappa’s house for unloading. The driver grew suspicious when Kumarappa did not come out as usual or answered the phone calls. The driver then rang the calling bell, but still there was no response, police said.He then opened a window only to find all the four lying in an unconscious state with a bottle lying close by.
He immediately alerted the neighbours who called up police who in turn rushed all the four to the Baptist Hospital.
Kumarappa’s brother K N Raju who was shocked by the incident said “My brother landed in financial problems and hence might have taken the extreme step. He should not have poisoned his children which nobody would approve.”