The alleged suicide of Sachin Panchal, a contractor in Bhalki taluk of Bidar district has sparked political tensions in Karnataka, with the Opposition accusing IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge of involvement.

On Sunday, the Opposition BJP criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning whether constitutional principles applied to his family. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that Priyank Kharge, the minister and Kharge’s son, was responsible for Panchal’s death. “Does Ambedkar’s Constitution not apply to the Kharge family? Priyank Kharge, who preaches morality, should resign and set an example,” Ashoka said in a statement.

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Responding to the allegations, Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It is a big joke that BJP, experts in falsehood, claim they are conducting a fact-finding mission. The BJP knows only how to investigate lies!”

FIR filed aginst six

An FIR has been registered against former councillor Rajkumar Kapnoor, a close aide of Priyank Kharge, along with five others. The case was filed based on a suicide note purportedly written by Panchal. The note accused Kapnoor and others of conspiring to kill Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil, and Mattimadu.

Sachin Panchal allegedly ended his life on Thursday by lying in front of an approaching train.

(With inputs from PTI)