Tumakuru (Karnataka), March 21 A social welfare department official allegedly committed suicide at his office in this district after accusing his senior colleague of harassment, police said on Saturday.
The deceased, Mallikarjun, an Assistant Director, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at the social welfare department office in Pavagada town on Friday, they added.
Before taking the extreme step, the taluk-level officer of the department recorded a selfie video on his mobile phone, alleging that he was driven to the decision due to the harassment by Joint Director Krishnappa.
Mallikarjun was a native of Gundarlahalli in Pavagada, they said.
In the video, he also said that his mother, wife, and children had taken good care of him. He claimed that God and the law would punish his senior colleague for his actions.
Based on a complaint filed by Mallikarjun's family and the selfie video, a case of abetting suicide has been registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the Joint Director, and the matter is under investigation, a senior police officer said.
Citing preliminary findings, the officer said the Joint Director had recently initiated an inquiry against the deceased, who was due to retire in just 10 days. It could have affected his pension and other work-related matters.