PARAMESHWARA’S AIDE FOUND HANGING
Ramesh was found hanging from a tree near the Sports Authority of India grounds, days after income-tax sleuths raided the senior Congress leader’s residence
BENGALURU: Former Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara's confidant allegedly committed suicide here on Saturday, days after income-tax sleuths raided the senior congress leader's residence, office and educational institutions.
Ramesh, who hailed from Melehalli in Ramanagar, was found hanging from a tree near the Sports Authority of India grounds in the morning, police said.
According to Congress sources, he started his stint with Congress as a typist and became close to Parameshwara.
The sleuths, who raided the residence, office and Siddharth Group of institutions belonging to Parameshwara two days ago, had questioned Ramesh too, the sources claimed.
The I-T department has summoned Parameshwara for questioning on Tuesday in connection with the raids.
An alleged suicide note found from the spot where Ramesh's body was found hanging, read, "I am rattled with the I-T raids in my house and have decided to commit suicide to protect honour (sic).
Anguished with the culture that the poor should remain poor forever, I arrived at this decision."
Police said the note appealed to I-T officials not to trouble his wife and children.
Lamenting the death, Parameshwara said he had told Ramesh to be courageous and face the situation boldly.
"Don't know why he committed suicide. This morning also, I spoke to him and told him to stay bold," he said.
Parameshwara, who had served as the Congress state chief,visited the place where his confidant committed suicide.
The Congress unit described Rameshs suicide an outcome of "targeted harassment" of their rank and cadre to keep them away from the party.
"IT dept claims second victim in State after Siddharth. Harassment from @Bjp4india controlled IT dept has claimed life of Ramesh," the Karnataka Congress said in a tweet, drawing a parallel between the alleged suicide by Cafe Coffee Day founder V G Siddhartha and Ramesh.
"In its rush to pester opposition, they have surpassed all levels of Humanity & has repeatedly exceeded its mandate. This is condemnable & unheard of," the party tweeted.
Speaking to reporters, KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao wanted to know why Congress leaders were only raided.
"Whats the motive? Their only agenda is to target and harass those who write and speak against them (BJP)," he said.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah alleged that Ramesh was tortured for twothree days during questioning.
Ramesh had stated he was committing suicide unable to bear their atrocities, Siddaramaiah claimed.
Meanwhile, Income Tax officials summoned Parameshwara to depose before them on Tuesday after two days of extensive raids at his office, education institutions and residence.
Parameshwara's family runs the Siddhartha Group of Institutions which was established by his father H M Gangadharaiah 58 years ago.
Parameshwara on Saturday said the I-T officials have summoned him on Tuesday. "So, I will go there on Tuesday."
He said the officials told him that the raids were carried out following complaints by some students.
Parameshwara refused to give political colour to the raids and said he was preparing to respond to the findings of the income tax officials.
Officials had earlier said the raids at premises belonging to Parameshwara and others were in connection with a multicrore tax evasion case linked to the National Eligibility-cumentrance Test (NEET).
The department took the action as part of its probe to check alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET exams in two medical colleges run by a trust in Tumakuru city in Karnataka.
Parameshwara is stated to be the chairman of the trust identified as Shri Siddhartha Education Trust.
A case of alleged forgery in the NEET exam by impersonation and alleged illegal payments made to secure seats was the trigger for the I-T action, they said.