Harassed for commission: Another contractor seeks Prez Murmu’s permission for euthanasia

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Amid allegations against government officials in the state seeking 40 percent commission from civil contractors under the BJP regime, another contractor has written to President Doupadi Murmu seeking permission for mercy killing after alleging harassment from the officials refusing to release the funds of Rs 71 lakh that he had spent on building a Gram Panchayat building in Alur village in Bengaluru North.

Contractor Manjunath N, in his letter to the President alleged that based on a contract, he had constructed the Gram Panchayat building near Dasanapura Hobli two years ago. Rajesh, who was the Panchayat Development Officer during this time, is said to have paid Manjunath Rs 4 lakh towards the building construction.

However, claiming the rest of the amount from the department which is Rs 71 lakh, has allegedly turned out to be an uphill task for the contractor. “Despite submitting all the relevant bills, I have been made to run from pillar to post by the officials for months,” he claimed.

“Depressed of the harassment by the Panchayat officials, I had staged a protest and later attempted suicide by consuming poison outisde the Panchayat office. Following this, an executive officer during that time, Venkatesh, had directed the other officials to clear my bills within a month,” he stated in his letter.

“However, it has been four months since the incident, but the officials have not cleared my payments. People who gave me loans have approached the police and are threatening to book a cheating case against me,” Manjunath said in his letter to the President of India.

He also said that he is awaiting justice and has sent a copy of his letter to the office of the Prime Minister of India, Karnataka Chief Minister, State authorities and leaders of the opposition parties here.