Bengaluru: A 42-year-old street vendor, Papanna, died by suicide in Kadugodi shortly after midnight on Friday, alleging that he had been repeatedly implicated in false cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as part of an extortion scheme.
Papanna, a resident of Channasandra, earned his livelihood by selling flowers and vegetables, police said. Hours before taking the extreme step, he recorded a two-minute video detailing his alleged ordeal. In the video, he claimed that Jogi Seena and others from AGK Layout in Kadugodi had recently filed a case against him and his sister, Bhagya, under the SC/ST Act.
Allegations of extortion and false cases
Papanna further alleged that the same individuals had filed a similar atrocity case against him in 2021. According to him, the case was withdrawn only after he paid Rs 10 lakh to Jogi Seena and others. Police have launched an investigation into the allegations and the circumstances surrounding his death.
“Seena and others are demanding Rs 10 lakh again to close the case. I’m a poor vendor. From where can I bring so much money? Jogi Seena and others don’t work to earn their livelihood. Instead, they register false atrocity cases on people like me and make money. I request police to initiate action against them. Also, I request police to save my sister Bhagya, who is also a victim of the gang,” Papanna stated in the video.
Timeline of events
Papanna shared the video with his sister Bhagya and others late Friday night and then consumed poison. Though Bhagya and others rushed to Papanna’s residence, he was dead by then, police said.
A police officer said they have arrested Jogi Seena and three more persons. “We will arrest others soon,” he said.
