Kallappa Handibag, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) of Chikkamagaluru sub-division, who was accused of involving in a kidnap for ransom, was reportedly found dead at his relative’s place at Muragod in Belagavi on Tuesday. The officer had been absconding since the complaint accusing him as one among five persons of kidnap and extortion was registered at Basavanahalli Police Station in Chikkamagaluru on Monday.
Chikkamagaluru police were in search of the accused officer. Kallappa Handibag, who was posted in Chikkamagaluru two years ago, was on duty till Sunday evening in Chikkamagaluru.
Tejas Gowda, a resident of Chikkamagaluru, had filed a complaint alleging that the DySP and four others had kidnapped him with the help of a gang of youths on June 28 and he was released only after his friends handed over ransom of Rs. 10 lakh to Kallappa Handibag. Tejas Gowda’s friend Pavan had reportedly spoken to the police officer over phone before handing over the cash. The police had collected the audio clips of the conversation.
The officer left the town as he learnt that a case was being registered against him. Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Santosh Babu had informed the incidents to the Director General and Inspector General of Police. A decision had also been taken to handover the investigation of the case to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Meanwhile, Belagavi Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikante Gowda told reporters that Kallappa Handibag reportedly committed suicide by hanging at around 8.30 a.m. Relatives of his wife Vidya broke open the door of the bedroom that was on the first floor and rushed him to the Muragod Primary Health Centre, coming under Muragod Police Station limits in Savadatti taluk. The PHC staff referred him to KLE Hospital in Belagavi. However, doctors at the hospital declared Kallappa Handibag as brought dead. The hospital authorities and police are now waiting for Kallappa Handibag’s father Basappa to arrive at Belagavi to take up post mortem.
Relatives said that Kallappa Handibag and his wife Vidya, along with their two-year-old son, arrived at Muragod at around 9 p.m. on Monday. They were visiting Vidya’s father Siddarayappa Gangappa Tonni. It is said that after dinner, the couple and their child retired to the bedroom on the first floor. They also claimed that Kallappa Handibag committed suicide when his wife was in the bathroom. The police, however, are yet to confirm the details.
