Graft-accused suspended senior govt officer kills self

A 54-year-old suspended assistant commissioner of Delhi government’s food and supply department committed suicide, allegedly by hanging himself, at his daughter’s house in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka today afternoon; HT reports.

A 54-year-old suspended assistant commissioner of Delhi government’s food and supply department committed suicide, allegedly by hanging himself, at his daughter’s house in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka on Saturday afternoon.

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In August, the deceased, Dharamvir Sharma of Laxmibai Nagar in south Delhi, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged bribery case. Police said he was depressed since then and had attempted suicide twice since his release on bail on October 26.

Police recovered a suicide note from him that read, “CBI has falsely implicated me in bribe charges. Whatever has happened to me is unfair. I attempted to commit suicide in the past also but my family members saved me. Today, I got a chance to end my life at my daughter’s house. I am feeling bad because I am taking the extreme step at my daughter’s house. I am the only person responsible for my death”. (sic.)

The CBI had arrested Sharma for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs.15,000 for renewing a ration shop licence. His daughter found him hanging around 2pm.

AK Ojha, additional CP (southwest), said the incident came to their notice after the daughter called the police.

“Sharma was depressed and had attempted suicide in the past too. He has written in his suicide note that he was depressed over the ongoing CBI action against him. We have sent his body for post-mortem examination,” said Ojha.

Refuting the allegation Sharma levelled against the CBI in his suicide note, CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said, “The CBI had conducted a fair probe against Sharma after a complaint was received alleging that he was demanding Rs.15,000 bribe for the renewal of a ration shop’s licence. Moreover, the investigation against him had already been completed. Hence, the question of harassing him does not arise.”

Sharma is survived by his wife and two daughters. Sharma’s wife told the police that he had left their government flat in Laxmibai Nagar in the morning to meet his daughter at her house in Dwarka.

The CBI had arrested Sharma and his assistant Bal Krishan on charges of demanding Rs.15,000 as bribe for the renewal of licence of a ration shop from their office at Vikas Sadan, ITO. They were arrested while accepting bribe amount of Rs.15,000 and Rs.5,000, respectively, said police.