Pradeep Suicide Case: Congress leader demand Karnataka BJP MLA should be arrested

BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali had claimed innocence saying that he had only tried to broker a compromise between two factions when Pradeep reached out for help.Two days after a 47-year-old businessman named Pradeep allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself, Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Ramalinga Reddy visited his house in Bengaluru’s Kaggalipura. Pradeep Suicide Case: Congress leader demand BJP MLA should be arrested.

The leaders consoled the family and demanded the police to arrest everyone named in the FIR. According to police, Pradeep purportedly left behind an eight-page death note that named Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali and five others.After meeting the family, Congress leaders spoke to reporters and questioned why BJP leaders’ names surfaced wherever there is money involved. “It’s an irreparable loss for Pradeep’s family. He took an extreme step. We had come to share the sorrow of Pradeep’s family.

Santosh Patil, Prasad and Pradeep, are not just names these are names of a few people who died because of the corrupt government. People are dying frequently due to the 40 per cent corruption allegations. Pradeep was a BJP leader and was facing financial issues, the same was the case with Prasad. Why do BJP leaders’ names surface where there is money involved? Such incidents are taking place due to corruption. The government must punish people behind Pradeep’s death,” Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Siddaramaiah demanded the arrest of people named in the death note including Arvind Limbavali. “There has to be some reason for writing Arvind Limbavali’s name in the death note. Police must immediately arrest all the people involved in the case. Police must arrest the MLA or else evidence might be destroyed. Even in Santosh Patil’s case, KS Eshwarappa was named but he was granted a clean chit within 3 months. Such incidents are taking place due to corruption. Police must take action and get justice for Pradeep,” Siddaramaiah said.

Pradeep was found dead in his car at Nettigere near Bengaluru on Sunday evening. Police said that he had allegedly shot himself in the head. He had purportedly left behind an eight-page death note that named MLA Aravind Limbavali and five others. Based on the complaint filed by Pradeep’s wife, the police had filed an FIR in the case naming 6 men. Limbavali is accused number 3 in the FIR, which also names, Gopi K, Somaiah, Ramesh Reddy G, Jayarama Reddy, and Raghava Bhat.

Reacting to the allegations, Limbavali said that Pradeep was a BJP worker and had initially handled his social media account. He also said that he had only tried to help the businessman, and was ready for any inquiry. “In fact, I demand for an inquiry, for the truth to come out.” The legislator said he doesn’t know the reason why his name was mentioned in the death note, and ruled out the possibility of any conspiracy against him.

Pradeep is said to have invested about Rs 1.5 crore in an upcoming resort project involving Gopi, Somaiah and others near HSR Layout, a prominent suburb in Bengaluru, and was promised a stake in it, but was later allegedly cheated, police said. Limbavali is said to have tried to broker a compromise between them, and an agreement was reached a month ago to pay Pradeep his dues, but the latter did not receive all the money.

Limbavali said, Pradeep had first shared his problem in June or July of 2022. “Immediately based on the information and phone numbers he shared, I checked with them (Gopi, Somaiah and others) and asked them to do the settlement. They sought for time citing COVID, and as the issue was not resolved even after 15 days, Pradeep again came to me and I then asked them to resolve issues immediately, as he was in financial distress.

“This much has been his involvement in the issue…subsequently at some event, on my asking, Pradeep said his issue was solved and thanked me,” Limbavali told reporters, adding that he knew Gopi, Somaiah and others as they are owners of a banquet hall in the city where party events or meetings are usually held.

The MLA had also said that he had helped Pradeep during a family dispute when his wife had filed a complaint at Bellandur police station. “I had called the police station and asked them to try to amicably solve the issue and help them reach a compromise, by involving both parties if the wife agrees, and accordingly they had reached a compromise,” Limbavali added. The police have registered a case and are likely to summon the MLA for questioning soon.

Also Read: Karnataka businessman suicide case: BJP MLA’s name in Suicide Note