A welfare department officer in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district has reportedly committed suicide in his office after recording a video accusing his senior colleague of harassment.
According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Mallikarjun, deputy director in the social welfare department.
Alleging harassment by a senior citizen
He was found hanging from a ceiling fan at a social welfare office in Pavagada town on Friday.
The police also found a selfie video taken by a taluk-level officer of the department on his mobile phone before he took his own life.
In the video, Mallikarjun, a native of Gundarlahalli in Pavagada, accused Krishnappa, the joint director of the social welfare department, of harassing him.
He also said in the video that his mother, wife and children took good care of him.
“My mother, wife and children took good care of me and I was proud of that. I should have supported them but I am not able to do that. I wanted to do more for them but I can’t. I took this decision because of the harassment of joint director Krishnappa,” he said in the video.
He claimed that God and the law would punish his senior colleague for his actions.
“Krishnappa will be punished by God. Because he is a troublemaker, my family members need not take revenge. He will be punished by God and the law.”
Case filed
Based on the complaint filed by Mallikarjuna’s family and the selfie video, a case of abetting suicide has been registered against the joint director under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the matter is under investigation, a senior police officer told PTI.
An investigation into the irregularities is ongoing
According to the police, Mallikarjun, who was due to retire in just 10 days, was the subject of a ministry probe for alleged irregularities.
Krishnappa, the joint director whom Mallikarjun accused of harassment, launched an investigation that could affect his pension and other work-related matters.
