I-T harassment: Cops may treat Siddhartha’s letter as suicide note after verification

coastaldigest.com web desk
August 1, 2019

Mangaluru, Aug 1: After the death of Cafe Coffee Day founder V G Siddhartha, the letter he purportedly wrote — in which he blamed his financial troubles and “harassment” on the Income Tax Department for “succumbing to the situation” — has gained legal significance. It will now have to be treated as a dying declaration or suicide note, after checking the veracity of the letter, say legal experts and senior police officials of the State.

“We have recovered the letter from his family members. We will take necessary action further,” said Kamal Pant, Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), Karnataka. However, a senior police official overseeing the case said that given the circumstances of his death and how the letter has surfaced, it could be considered a dying declaration.

Sources said a clerk in Siddhartha’s office handed over the letter to his immediate family hours after he went missing near Mangaluru on Monday night. The clerk has told the family and the police that Siddhartha had dictated the letter to her a few weeks ago and he called her on Monday evening, hours before he went missing, asking her to release it to over 200 people, including CCD employees, investors and media on Tuesday morning. The police will record the clerk’s statement and would then corroborate it with Siddhartha’s call records.

“Even if the letter was written a few weeks ago, his call to the clerk asking her to release it as his statement the next day clearly indicates it was his dying declaration,” said senior criminal lawyer C.H. Hanumantharaya. This, despite the letter not explicitly saying he was taking his life, as the tone of the letter and the circumstances indicated the same.

A senior police official said that if the police probe into his death led to the inference that these factors unfairly pushed him to take the extreme step, then booking a case for abetment would be considered.

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coastaldigest.com news network
January 28,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 28: Amidst nationwide agitation by ‘We, the People of India’ against contentious CAA, NRC, the women of Manglauru have decided to hold satyagrah and form a human chain in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in the heart of the city on January 30.

This was announced in a press conference today by activists Sajida Momin, Vidya Dinker, Terry Pais, Maria Ferandes and Suhasini Babbukatte.

The event will mark the 73rd anniversary of the martyrdom of the original Satyagrahi Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated by saffronite terrorist Nathuram Godse.

Ms Momin told media persons that the Satyagrah will commence at 10 a.m. to safeguard the constitution. At 4:30 p.m. a human chain will be formed.

“At 5.17p.m. when the father of the nation was gunned down 72 years ago during his evening prayer at Birla House by Godse, we will convey Gandhi’s message of unity against violence,” she said.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 25,2020

Benglauru, May 25: Nearly one thousand people in the capital city of Karnataka have lost several crores of rupees to online fraudsters during the two months of covid-19 lockdown.

According to official sources, 962 cases of online frauds have been registered in various police stations across Bengaluru March 23 to May 19. 

On an average, 18 cases were reported every day. However, this number isn’t unusually high compared to normal times, according to police. The highest number of cases was registered in west division (227). 

What baffles the cops is the brazenness with which fraudsters attacked. Many fraudsters duped people in the name of providing jobs, insurance money, Employees’ Provident Fund, renewal of credit/debit cards. 
Many people lost money while procuring groceries, alcohol, masks and hand sanitisers delivered at the doorstep. Olx and Facebook scams thrived during the prolonged lockdown. 

Police said malicious links were shared on mobile phones asking recipients to download the Aarogya Setu app and seeking banking information, all targeted at stealing phone data. 

An officer said many were glued to their phones, and cybercriminals took advantage of this, sometimes pretending to be bank representatives wanting to issue/ renew credit/debit cards.

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News Network
July 15,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 15: Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday urged the Ministers in the state to visit Covid-19 designated hospitals and instil confidence among patients, doctors and medical staff there.

Noting that doctors, nurses and others were doing a great job, Shivakumar said the government has to stand with them and instil confidence in them. Speaking to reporters after visiting Victoria hospital, a major dedicated Covid hospital in the city, he said, "All the Ministers have to go to hospitals and instil confidence in the staff, patients.... they have to remove fear and tell them we will have to live with this (virus), and cannot escape from it."

Shivakumar said he believes that by instilling confidence most part of the diseases can be cured. He lauded doctors, paramedical and other staff working at the Hospital for the sake of patients, putting their own life at risk and appreciated facilities provided there.

During the visit, the state Congress President interacted with patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19, also medical staff and doctors. He said at Victoria hospital patients were allowed to use mobile phones, so that they can speak to family members, which has to an extent instilled confidence among them, and the same has to be replicated across the state.

Not wishing to comment on complaints about the quality of facility and PPE kits provided at the hospital, also alleged misappropriation on part of the government in the purchase of equipment for Covid treatment, Shivakumar said, "....let's see that at Vidhana Soudha (seat of state's legislature)." He said, "this is not the time to talk about corruption and other things, this is not the time for it....instilling confidence among patients, doctors and paramedical staff is important now."

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