Contractor ends life in Bidar, blames Priyank Kharge's associates responsible; minister responds

Bidar: A contractor ended his life in Bidar after accusing Congress leaders, who are said to be close associates of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, of issuing death threats to him on Thursday.

The body of the contractor Sachin Monappa Panchal (26), who hailed from Katti Tugaon village of Bhalki taluk, was found on a railway track in Bidar on Thursday morning. Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti said that the railway police are investigating the case.

He has named eight Congress leaders, including Nandakumar Naga Bhujange, Gorakhnath and also Kalaburagi Mahanagar Palike former councillor Raju Kapanur, accusing them of cheating by not awarding him a contract even after collecting 15 lakh bribe.

He has also alleged that they threatened to kill him if Rs 1 crore was not paid to them. The deceased also claimed that he has met the minister along with the accused over allotment of contract to him.

Kavita Panchal, the sister of deceased, has lodged a complaint at Bidar railway police station, accusing the Congress leaders responsible for his suicide. Meanwhile, the railway police inspector Basavaraj Teli said that she has not mentioned the name of the minister in the FIR.

Responding to it, Priyank Kharge claimed that he has no knowledge about the incident and expressed confidence that the investigative agency would conduct an effective probe into it.

"Making false accusations is an old habit of the BJP. Previously, they made baseless allegations against me and they are doing it again now. They will continue to do so. Let the BJP continue their efforts. However, their attempts to undermine me with unfounded accusations will not succeed", he stated in his post on 'X'.