Karnataka Cong President D K Shivakumar demands judicial probe into suicide of retired professor
Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Monday demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court Judge into the death of retired Bangalore University professor N S Ashok Kumar.
Ashok Kumar (64), who was also former Registrar (Evaluation) of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, was found dead in his house at Mico Layout here on Sunday.
He was found hanging and a purported note said he was responsible for his own death, police said.
Shivakumar on Monday claimed that Kumar had paid Rs 2.5 crore to "influential people" in exchange to get appointed as a vice-chancellor.
"This suicide is shocking and discussions are going on regarding the reason behind it.
On the issue of the appointment of four vice-chancellors there have been some (financial) transactions.
The professor (Kumar) borrowed loans and was made to wait 5-6 months. But he did not get the position nor the money back. Therefore, he took the extreme step," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that influential people were involved.
"...who took (the money), which official or Minister or middle man.. everything has to be inquired into, there is a need for it (inquiry).
Influential people have taken money, those in government are party to it, this is what we are hearing," he alleged.
On November 7, the state government had appointed vice-chancellors to four new universities - Maharani Cluster University, Raichur University, Nrupathunga University, and Mandya University.
Stating that Kumar was told that there was some problem with his file and his money wasn't returned, Shivakumar alleged that "big people" were involved in the financial transactions and corruption in the appointment of the VCs.
"There are discussions that the vice-chancellor post is for sale under this government...In this background, I want to tell the Chief Minister that those part of your government is trying to malign your name.
....I urge the CM to constitute a judicial commission under a sitting High Court judge to inquire," he added.
According to police, Kumar, who was living with his wife and son, went to his room at midnight on Saturday after speaking to her.
As he did not come out on Sunday morning, the family members went to his room, where they found him hanging.
Police have filed a case of unnatural death and are investigating the case.
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Human skeletal remains found in Bengaluru outskirts
Bengaluru (PTI): Human skeletal remains, including a skull, suspected to be that of a woman were discovered in and around a lake on outskirts of the city, police said on Saturday.
The matter came to light after shepherds spotted the remains near the lake at Mugalur near Sarjapur while grazing cattle in the area and alerted the police, they said.
During the inspection, investigators found bones scattered across the dried lake bed and nearby areas, a senior police officer said, adding there was suspicion that the remains must be at least three months old.
Police suspect the victim may have drowned in the lake earlier, with the skeletal remains surfacing after water levels receded significantly during the summer.
Officials also suspect stray dogs could have dragged some of the remains to surrounding areas after the lake dried up further.
With pieces of a saree recovered from the spot, police suspect that it could have been of a woman.
Forensic experts and the Scene of Crime Officer team visited the spot and collected the skeletal remains and other evidence for examination.
A case has been registered and the remains, along with other evidence, have been sent for forensic analysis, the police officer said.
The identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death are yet to be established, he added.
