A Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) councillor was booked for abetment to suicide after an auto driver killed himself in the state’s Siddipet district alleging graft over the allotment of the government’s 2BHK scheme. The deceased, before the extreme step, recorded a video, blaming the TRS councillor for his death. He killed himself by consuming pesticides on Monday morning.

The man was identified as Ramesh (38), an auto-rickshaw driver from a Scheduled Tribe community. He committed suicide alleging that the local TRS councillor had denied allotting him a 2BHK flat under the government housing scheme. Before committing suicide, Ramesh recorded a video of himself stating TRS councillor Praveen was responsible for him taking the extreme step since Praveen demanded a bribe to allot him a house under the government’s 2BHK housing scheme.

According to Ramesh’s family, the TRS councillor had prevented the allotment of a 2BHK flat to Praveen’s family despite taking bribes even after the name of Praveen’s wife, Lalitha, was featured on the list of eligible beneficiaries for the 2BHK scheme multiple times.

TRS COUNCILLOR FACES HEAT

Before his death, Praveen recorded a selfie video addressing councillor Praveen and said, “I am dying because of you. I won’t let you play with my life. You live long and do favours for the (municipal) chairman. Goodbye.” Ramesh committed suicide by consuming pesticide near Siddipet collectorate on Monday evening.

Ramesh’s wife, Lalitha, said, “Our name has featured in the beneficiaries’ list three times, but we were not given a house. Ramesh had gone to the district collector’s office to ask why it wasn’t allotted this time too. Councillor Praveen had earlier taken money saying he would get us the flat. We’ve been making the rounds for three years, but it wasn’t allotted each time. We had nothing but we still [arranged money and] gave.”

According to Siddipet III Town police, a case has been registered against Praveen for abetment of suicide based on the family’s complaint. Further investigations are underway.

The incident took a political turn after the BJP and Congress protested against the ruling TRS about Ramesh’s death.

BJP MLA Eatala Rajender said, “A farmer-turned-auto driver Ramesh from the Yerukula community had been living in Siddipet for 15 years. He did not own any land or house and had all the required documents to be eligible for the 2BHK scheme, yet was forced to pay a bribe. The government must provide compensation to Ramesh’s family and a job for a family member.”