AAP Councillor Booked in MCD Worker's Suicide Over Rs 15 Lakh Loan
Delhi Police have booked AAP councillor Vijay Kumar for alleged abetment of suicide after an MCD sanitation worker's death, following his wife's complaint over a Rs 15 lakh loan and unpaid salary.
A councillor of the Aam Aadmi Party has been booked for alleged abetment of suicide following the death of a sanitation worker employed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, with the worker's wife alleging that a loan of about Rs 15 lakh meant to buy a house was retained by the councillor.
Deepak, 45, worked as an MCD sanitation worker in Blocks 1 and 2 of Trilokpuri and lived with his family in Kalyanpuri. He died by suicide earlier this month.
Police records show the case against councillor Vijay Kumar was registered on September 14 under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Vijay Kumar has denied the allegations, stating that he did not arrange any loan for the sanitation worker and that he was being falsely implicated.
Complaint alleges loan and salary dues
In her complaint, Deepak's wife Sangeeta alleged that her husband wanted to buy a house and that a loan of around Rs 15 lakh was arranged through the councillor. The money, she alleged, was never handed over to her husband and was retained by Vijay Kumar.
She has also alleged that Deepak had not received his salary for around 10 months. According to the complaint, he raised questions about both the loan amount and his salary and was allegedly put under pressure. The complaint further alleges that Rs 25,000 was demanded for every Rs 1 lakh, and that Deepak was threatened with a transfer if he continued to raise the issue.
The family has also alleged that his identity documents, cheque book, bank passbook and property papers were in the possession of the councillor. Sangeeta claimed that a day before his death, Deepak was extremely distressed and told her that if anything happened to him, Vijay Kumar would be responsible.
BJP seeks action
Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra raised the matter at a press conference on Thursday and sought action against the AAP councillor. Malhotra said Deepak had sought the councillor's help because he wanted a house for his family, and alleged that the worker had been asking for months to either "arrange the house or return his money".
Referring to the allegation of a demand for Rs 25,000 for every Rs 1 lakh, the BJP leader described it as a "25 per cent commission". He further alleged that cheques signed by Deepak were in the councillor's possession and that money linked to his salary had been withdrawn using them.
Investigation under way
The police are investigating the circumstances leading to Deepak's death and the financial angle. Investigators are expected to examine loan documents, bank transactions and salary records, along with the allegations concerning his cheque book and other documents. Communications between Deepak and the accused before his death are also likely to be examined, and bank records are expected to be scrutinised as part of the probe.