In a shocking development, a case has been registered against six individuals, including Raju Kapanur, a close aide to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, in connection with the death of Sachin Panchal, a contractor from Bidar. Panchal allegedly ended his life by lying in front of an approaching train on Thursday, and a suicide note he left behind has raised serious allegations of conspiracy.
The police have initiated investigations based on Panchal’s suicide note, in which he accused Kapanur and five others of threatening him with death and conspiring to kill several prominent political figures, including BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil, and Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math. The note also suggested that the Congress leaders had orchestrated the plot.
Family’s Anguish and Minister’s Assurance
Panchal’s family, reeling from the tragedy, held officials accountable for their son’s death. The family expressed their anger when Bidar District-In Charge Minister Eshwar Khandre, who holds the forest portfolio, visited their residence in Bhalki Taluk. The family demanded justice and blamed the local administration for neglecting their concerns.
Minister Khandre assured the grieving family that the government would ensure justice and promised to take appropriate action against those responsible. “The government will ensure that justice is done, and the accused persons are punished. Government is with you,” Khandre told the family. He also announced a ₹10 lakh ex gratia for Panchal’s family.
Khandre revealed that the family had complained about the police’s reluctance to register a case initially, prompting him to speak with senior police officials. He confirmed that action had been taken against a few police personnel. The Government Railway Police (GRP) is handling the investigation into Panchal’s suicide, though Khandre suggested that the case might be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.
BJP’s Strong Reaction
The BJP has condemned the circumstances surrounding Panchal’s death and demanded a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The party’s state president, B.Y. Vijayendra, expressed grave concerns over the contents of Panchal’s suicide note. The note, he claimed, implicated Kapanur, alleging that he had ordered a contract killing against several BJP leaders, including Mattimadu, Rathod, Patil, and Swami. Vijayendra added that the party would visit Panchal’s house to offer condolences and show their support.
Priyank Kharge Denies Allegations
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, vehemently denied the allegations and accused the BJP of politicizing his aide’s death. Kharge maintained that there was no mention of his name in Panchal’s suicide note and emphasized that the financial transactions between Panchal and Kapanur should be the focus of the investigation. He criticized the BJP for making baseless allegations against him.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident continues to spark political tensions in the state, with both the Congress and BJP engaged in a war of words over the alleged conspiracy and Panchal’s tragic death.
Sources By Agencies