Udupi, October 13: The mysterious death of Hazel Jyotsna Mathias, who was working at the Al Miqua General Hospital in Saudi Arabia, on July 19, of Kutyar near Shirva, was still a mystery to the family. Till date, the family is unaware of the reason for the death.

It is said that Hazel has committed suicide due to harassment from a hospital staff. As the Saudi Arabia police registered an unnatural death, her body was sent to India after 72 days of her death due to investigation and court proceedings. The body was cremated at Shirva Arogya Matha Church on September 28. But the family did not get any documents, statements, records, and postmortem report from the hospital, police or court, her death note and her diary and other documents which should have been sent through the Indian Embassy, according to Udupi Human Rights Protection Foundation  President Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag who has been fighting for justice in the case.

The Indian Embassy has to send the major documents and records related to the mysterious death of Hazel. But the Indian Embassy which should protect the rights of the Indians, has completely failed in its duty. It has not tried honestly, Dr. Shanbhag said in a joint press conference with Hazel husband Ashwin Mathias, Father Robert Quadrus, Helena Quadrus and brother Royan Mervin Quadrus here on Saturday.

Even after three months of her death, Hazel’s parents were unaware about the reason for their daughter’s death. It is still a mystery that whether she has committed suicide or are there any other reasons for her death. Her father Robert and brother Royan were firm that she was not a weak minded person to commit suicide. Meanwhile, a death note said to be written by her in Catholic-Konkani and Kannada language was found in hospital nursing hostel room where she was believed to be committed suicide. In her death note, it was said that she has mentioned that hospital staff Ibrahim Al Zahrani had harassed her, he said.  

Accused released

Saudi Arabia police who were investigating the case, had arrested Ibrahim and jailed. But he was released just three days before, Dr. Shanbhog said.

Because of this, her parents were in confusion whether their daughter has committed suicide or not and whether they to fight for justice or not. Postmortem report, death note, charge sheet and other important documents were necessary to confirm about her death. The Indian Embassy has sent just a doctor’s report that she had hanged herself and there were no marks on her body, and a police report that she had hanged herself, along with her body, he said.

Dr. Bander Salahi Al Zahrani of Al Baha Forensic Medicine Centre has confirmed that she died because of suffocation due to hanging and the doctors there also noted that it was a suicide. Surprisingly, the doctors had decided that it was a suicide without even having the postmortem report. Throughout the doctor’s report, there was no mention of postmortem report. Now, the family members were suspecting about conducting the postmortem. Based on the report, Al Baha district police director Major General Ali Bin Muhammad Al Hadi also said it was suicide and he also said that there was no sign of torture or fight on her body, he said.

Indian Embassy’s irresponsibility

Dr. Shanubhog said that the Indian Embassy which should have protected the interests of the victim and her family has completely failed in its responsibility. The Indian Embassy has done nothing in ensuring justice to Hazel and her family. Now, the Indian government should provide complete information about her death to her family. Already, the Foundation has sent emails to the Indian Embassy, hospital and the police of Saudi Arabia to give all information about her death, he added.

Royan said that the Indian Embassy has never contacted their family even for a single time. Though they themselves had contacted the officials, they had never responded positively, he said.

Option is there for re-postmortem!

If the family has suspicion about Hazel’s death, the body could be exhumed and conduct post mortem again. But her family members have to give consent for it. Since her family is so orthodox, it has not taken any decision about it. Before taking any decision, they have decided to wait for the reply from Saudi Arabia, he said.

Along with this,  another letter was sent to the hospital where she was working to provide all benefits and compensation she ought to get. The Foundation would support her family morally and legally, he said.

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Bengaluru, Nov 5: The Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association has alleged that the Excise Minister R B Thimmapur’s office has collected Rs 16 crore from various excise department officers by transferring them in and around Bengaluru.

While the Minister refuted the allegation, the opposition BJP got new ammunition to target the ruling Congress.

In a letter to the Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Secretary and the Karnataka Lokayukta, the Association alleged that the Minister's office is involved in rampant corruption.

“Huge bribes and money laundering took place in the excise minister office in Bengaluru in transferring excise officers and to control illegal collection of money for election purposes from excise officials,” the letter sent by mail read.

Explaining further, the Association said about Rs 16 crore has been collected on a single day from three deputy commissioners of excise, nine excise superintendents, 13 deputy superintendents of excise and 20 excise inspectors “for transferring in and around Bengaluru from past 2 to 3.5 years, as their tenure was getting completed within a month.”

Naming a deputy commissioner, the letter said the officer was collecting money somewhere between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 40 lakh from each officer for transferring them.

The Association said Rs 2.5 crore to Rs three crore was collected from deputy commissioners (excise) working in Bengaluru.

The association has demanded action against those involved "in this corruption."

“No such thing has happened. You must ask them why they went to pay money. Why would anyone pay if everything is correct?” Thimmapur told reporters at Shiggaon in Haveri district.

He also assured to take action against officers if they have collected money.

“The matter is that when these people (wine merchants) do something wrong then they (officers) harass them. The wine merchants should rectify themselves,” the Minister said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R Ashoka alleged that there was a Rs 700 crore liquor scam in the state.

“The Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association in its letter to CM @Siddaramaiah has alleged that State Excise Minister R B Timmapur is involved in blatant extortion and bribery, unfolding another dark episode of the series of scams by 'SCAM'gress Govt in Karnataka,” he said in a post on ‘X’.

He said the Association has alleged that CL7 bar licences were given after collecting a bribe amount of anywhere between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 70 lakh each by the Minister.

In the last one year, 1,000 such illegal licences were given by the excise minister, amounting to Rs 300 crore to Rs 700 crore in corruption, Ashoka alleged.

“After the Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation Scam, MUDA land scam, KIADB land scam, Waqf Scam, this Liquor scam is yet another fresh addition to the series of scams by CM Siddaramaiah led Congress Government in the last 17 months,” the BJP leader alleged.

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