The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Man ends life; ex-Minister’s name figures in suicide note

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Sunday, Nov 16, 2008
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Man ends life; ex-Minister’s name figures in suicide note

Staff Reporter

Venkatachalapathi was a former president of Korategere Town Panchayat

He was said to be a close follower of the former Minister C. Chennigappa
He ended his life in a lodge

BANGALORE: Venkatachalapathi (40), said to be a close follower of the former Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa and former president of Korategere Town Panchayat, allegedly hanged himself in a lodge here on Friday.

According to the Upparpet police, Venkatachalapathi, a rice merchant, ended his life at Royal Lodge on Subedar Chatram Road on Friday night, but the incident came to light only on Saturday.

Venkatachalapathi had checked into the lodge on Friday, and the staff, suspicious of the closed door, called the police on Saturday.

The police broke open the door to find Venkatachalapathi hanging from the ceiling. He had apparently consumed poison before hanging himself, said an officer of the Upparpet police station.

Contents of note

According to police inspector M.R. Mudhavi, Venkatachalapathi’s suicide note said he was with the Congress and joined the Janata Dal (Secular ) to support Mr. Chennigappa.

“The note said he (Venkatachalapathi) had spent Rs. 25 lakh in the Assembly elections on Mr. Chennigappa, who lost the polls. Strapped for money, he had asked Mr. Chennigappa to help him repay his debts,” Mr. Mudhavi told The Hindu.

According to the suicide note, Venkatachalapathi did not get any positive response from the former Minister.

“According to his suicide note, Venkatachalapathi had helped Mr. Chennigappa and other Janata Dal (S) leaders financially when Mr. Chennigappa was a Minister,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) B. Shivakumar.

“The suicide note was written a couple of months ago,” the DCP said.

Attempts to contact Mr. Chennigappa proved futile.

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