Contractor death case handed over to CID

State government hands over contractor suicide case to CID amid demands for CBI probe and minister's resignation.

The State government on Monday (December 30) handed over the case of the suicide of a contractor in Bidar alleging harassment and corruption by a local Congress leader, who is close to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It follows Mr. Kharge writing to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting him to hand over the probe into the death of contractor Sachin Panchala to the CID.

Senior officials in the CID said they had received the order to transfer the FIR in the suicide case to the CID, and an investigation team would be formed soon.

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party insisted on a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the resignation of Mr. Kharge, Home Minister G. Parameshwara turned down both demands.

“The deceased has not mentioned the Minister’s name in the death note. But the BJP has been trying to drag the name of Priyank Kharge unnecessarily and defame the Minister and the State government. There is no need for the minister to resign. BJP should desist from playing politics in everything. CID has probed several cases efficiently. All cases cannot be handed over to the CBI,” Dr. Parameshwara said.

However, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra reiterated the party’s demand for a CBI probe and the resignation of Mr. Kharge. He argued that B. Nagendra and K.J. George from the Congress and K.S. Eshwarappa from the BJP resigned when those who committed suicide had written death notes indicating their involvement.

“Sachin’s family is disillusioned with how the State police handled the case and also want a CBI investigation. His two sisters went to the police at 2.15 p.m. on the fateful day seeking help to trace Sachin, following his post on social media that he was ending his life. But the sub-inspector hasn’t acted in time. There is also mention of using supari killers in the death note. This is a serious matter. Sachin’s family should be given security and the case be handed over to CBI,” he said.

Mr. Vijayendra also demanded that the family of the deceased be paid a compensation of ₹1 crore and a family member be given a government job. It can be recalled that Bidar district in-charge minister Eshwar Khandre has announced an ex gratia of ₹10 Lakh to the family of the deceased.