RAMANATHAPURAM

Rameswaram Town police have booked the Commissioner and the Sanitary Inspector of the municipality on a charge of abetting the ‘suicide’ of a driver.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the wife of the driver, S. Nagarajan, the police registered a first information report on Thursday and booked Commissioner Veeramuthukumar and Sanitary Inspector Ayyappan under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.

Rameswaram Deputy Superintendent of Police M. Magesh said Nagarajan was found dead in his house after returning from the municipal office on Thursday morning. In a note he had left behind, the deceased said he was taking the extreme step unable to bear the torture by the Commissioner and the Sanitary Inspector. He alleged that the officials demanded ₹ 2 lakh per month from ‘diesel account’, the DSP said.

After registering the FIR, the police launched an investigation and inquiries with municipal staff revealed that when the deceased visited the office on Thursday, he was asked to present the ‘log book’ showing details of purchase of diesel for the month for making payment. He went out and was later found dead in his house, the DSP said.

The Commissioner and the Sanitary Inspector were not present in the office on Friday and they could not be reached immediately. Further investigation was on, Mr. Magesh added.

Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on State’s health helpline 104 and Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.