Gautham who died of suicide in Karnataka is not a BBMP contractor as BJP leaders claim.
Claim
BBMP contractor Shri Gautam has committed suicide after facing delays in getting his payment for the work executed by him.
Rating
Explanation
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors association in Karnataka recently met the governor and then the Chief Minister requesting to issue an order to release the outstanding payments which is due for the past 26 months. The contractors halted all ongoing projects and maintenance work in protest against non-payment of bills by the civic body despite multiple letters to the BBMP chief commissioner. It is also told that people in power (Deputy CM Shivkumar, Congress) are demanding money (15% commission) to clear the pending bills worth 2700 crore rupees.
BBMP contractor dies by suicide in Bengaluru. Hangs himself at his Vijayanagar residence last night
Deceased identified as Gautham, son of fmr corporator Doddanna. Police investigating reasons behind death
News comes amid protests by contractors in Karnataka for not being… pic.twitter.com/pFG85Pd7AR
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) August 10, 2023
Meanwhile, BJP leaders and social media users claim that one BBMP contractor, Sri Gautham committed suicide over nonpayment of bills by BBMP. B L Santhosh, BJP National General Secretary (organisation), tweeted the same mentioning that Gautham called up his friend & told the demands of people in power for clearing the bills.
BBMP Contractor Sri Gautham commits suicide over non payment of bills by BBMP . It’s told that he called up his friend & told the demands of people in power for clearing the bills . @INCKarnataka Guarantee Bhagya claims it’s first victim .
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) August 10, 2023
CT Ravi, BJP Karyakarta also claimed the same by mentioning as the Congress-led Karnataka government has come up with ‘Suicide Bhagya’ for contractors. BJP MLA Basanagouda R Patil Yatnal tweeted the same blaming the Congress-led Karnataka government for Gautham’s death. He mentioned it as Siddharamaiah’s news scheme ‘Atmahatya Bhagya’.
Siddaramaiah’s new scheme for Karnataka Citizens -“Atmahatya Bhagya”
Contractor Gautam Committed suicide in Bengaluru.
Contractors had met Governor and accused “Brother” of demanding a 15% bribe for the bill payment.
Siddaramaiah and his government is busy collecting funds… pic.twitter.com/GF3BjsHtuK
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) August 10, 2023
What is the truth?
When searching with relevant keywords we found that Gautham is not a BBMP contractor and his suicide is unrelated to the contractors’ protest. Indian Express reported that Gautham, 29-year-old is a son of a former Congress corporator of BBMP, K Doddanna. He committed suicide in his house in Attiguppe in Bengaluru’s Chandra Layout on August 10. Dodanna’s complaint said that Gautham had been suffering from depression for a few months but did not share the information with anyone. However, the exact reason behind his death is unknown and an investigation is underway.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Doddanna said that Gautham was neither a contractor nor had any license. “He was the youngest child and we were planning to fix his marriage. He was running a poultry farm and had nothing to do with contract work. Just for political reasons, they are misusing my son’s death,” he said.
BBMP Contractor Suicide Case | ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆ ಕೇಸ್ ಗೆ ಬಿಗ್ ಟ್ವಿಸ್ಟ್ : ಗೌತಮ್ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರನಲ್ಲ #bbmpcontractors #contractorsuicide #ContractorSuicide #suicde #suicideboys #vidhanasoudha #soudha #inckarnataka #dcmdks #dcmdkshivakumar #dcmdk #bbmpcontractors #dcmdks #dcmdk pic.twitter.com/NOz5lGewgf
— The Newzpeg (@thenewzpeg) August 10, 2023
Zee News featured a video of Gautham’s family clarifying that he is not a BBMP contractor. The same video is seen tweeted by ‘The Newz Peg’ and the person in the video is heard saying that he is Gautham’s brother-in-law. He states that Gautham is not a contractor and that it is rumoured that he is connected to BJP. He also asks not to disturb the family members. “Gautham was in a depression. He does not hold any contract or contract license or bill. I would like to clarify this. We are not doing any projects with BJP”, he added.
Deccan Herald also reported that Gautham’s brother-in-law denied the claim that Gautham is a BBMP contractor and that he was awaiting payments from the civic body. The BBMP Contractor’s Association President, K T Manjunath told Deccan Herald that Gautham is not a BBMP contractor. However, Gautham’s elder brother Harish is a BBMP contractor and awaits payments from the civic body, he said. Harish is part of a contractors’ delegation that has been meeting state government ministers and opposition politicians for the last few days seeking clearance of pending bills, reported DH.
Conclusion
It is found that Gautham who died of suicide in Karnataka is not a BBMP contractor as BJP leaders claim.
