'Second victim after VG Siddhartha': Cong sees red as Karnataka Dy CM's Aaide allegedly kills self after raids

Bengaluru: The personal assistant and long-time aide of former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara allegedly committed suicide on Saturday. He left a suicide note saying he took the extreme step as he was distressed after the Income Tax Department conducted raids on properties owned by Parameshwara. Ramesh, the personal assistant, allegedly hanged himself from a tree near the Bangalore University campus in West Bengaluru. The Congress claimed that vindictive harassment by I-T officials had led to Ramesh taking the extreme step. The party said if only legal action had been taken against those I-T officials who had harassed entrepreneur VG Siddhartha, such an incident would not have recurred. Ramesh had been an aide to Parameshwara for almost eight years. His phone had been switched off since early on Saturday after he had told friends he was depressed over the raids. Over 30 places related to Parameshwara have been raided since Thursday, with the I-T Department stating they were investigating irregularities in earnings related to medical admissions run by his educational trusts. I-T officials, speaking off the record, said that although Ramesh was present when the search and seizure operations took place over the last two days, him home had not been raided. The Karnataka Congress held the I-T Department responsible for Ramesh's death. "The I-T Department claims the second victim in the state after Siddharth," the party's state unit said in a tweet, referring to the Coffee Day tycoon who committed suicide in Bengaluru earlier this year. It further added, "Harassment from @BJP4India controlled IT dept has claimed life of Ramesh...In its rush to pester opposition, they have surpassed all levels of Humanity & has repeatedly exceeded its mandate." State Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao in a tweet said that the raids have become politically motivated and the department's vindictive actions have been claiming lives. "I castigate the barbaric heckling by the I-T officilas which has resulted in Ramesh's suicide. We demand a transparent and impartial enquiry by the government," Rao said in a tweet. The I-T Department on Friday said that about Rs 5 crore in cash had been seized during the raids. The sleuths had said they are continuing with the searches at 25 other locations. Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah had termed the raids as "politically motivated", while Parameshwara had said he would rectify any issue if it is found. Source: News 18