Youth ends life fearing reprisal in "false case"

A builder from Sadashivanagar, Dhanashankar, lodged a complaint against Laxminarayan on Sunday evening. According to the complainant, Laxminarayan, along with seven others, waylaid, assaulted and robbed him. The deceased’s friends, however, deny the charge and say a minor road accident was turned into an assault and robbery case (a non-bailable offence).

They allege that the police, apparently fearing political wrath, launched a hunt for Laxminarayan and his friends.

One of the friends Lokesh — who was accused of being party to the “crime”– attempted suicide by consuming sleeping tablets around the time Lakshminarayan hanged himself.

A close friend of the deceased — who requested anonymity — told The IndianExpress that Lakshminarayan, along with Prakash, Lokesh and Babu were returning from a temple when Prakash’s motorcycle brushed against Dhanashankar’s Tata Sumo on Bull Temple Road.

An altercation followed and Dhanashankar allegedly slapped Shankar. “Before going, Dhanashankar threatened to foist a false case and said he would not rest until their families were also behind bars”, he said.

Dhanshankar filed a case at Shankarapuram police station and alleged that more than eight persons assaulted him and his mother and robbed them of Rs 2,026 in cash. He gave the police the registration number of Prakash’s vehicle.

According to a highly-placed police official, there was a call from a minister’s office on Sunday instructing the Shankarapuram police to take action.

The next morning, eight investigating officers landed in Laxminarayan’s house at 11 am demanding information on the whereabouts of Prakash and Laxminarayan. Both the men, apprehending trouble, sought refuge in a house at Itmadagu nearPadmanabhanagar.

The speed displayed by police in registering the case and later tracking down the address in less than 30 minutes (it is learnt that the police contacted the RTO at 10.30 am and went to Laxminarayan’s house at 10.45 am) surprised the senior police officer.

Meanwhile, the youth’s relative Khanna Naidu and friend Murli tried to negotiate with Dhanashankar in the police station, but in vain. The builder wanted the youths to fall at his feet and apologise, said Khanna. “Before leaving the station, Dhanashankar instructed Inspector Ramaiah to apprehend the youths by Tuesday morning.” Naidu said.

Laxminarayan’s elder brother alleged that the family received two threatening calls from Dhanashankar — at 8 pm and 1 am on Monday night. “We do not know how Dhanashankar got our telephone number. The last call probably reinforced my brother’s decision to take his life”.

On Tuesday morning, the family broke open the door to find Laxminarayan dead. In a note addressed to his youngest brotherNagesh, he entrusted the responsibility of looking after his three-year-old daughter Sanjana and wife. The note further read: “Please forgive me. It was not my intention to end my life in such a manner. I am innocent, I have not erred in any way and do not want to bow my head before anybody. Please stop the owner of KA 09 S 290 (the registration number of the Tata Sumo) before he foists more false cases on innocent persons.”.

The relatives, deploring police high-handedness, refused to cremate the body on Tuesday. On the basis of DCP (South) H N S Rao’s assurance, they filed a counter-complaint at the Thyagarajnagar police station. Dhanashankar is said to be absconding.

While Lakshminarayan’s wife is numb with shock, his daughter keeps asking everyone, “Will my father return?”