A 35-year-old BJP worker, Vinay Somaiah, was found dead by suicide at his office in Bengaluru’s Nagawara area on Friday. In a suicide note recovered from the scene, Vinay accused constant harassment and a politically motivated FIR—allegedly masterminded by local Congress leaders—of compelling him to take the drastic step.
Vinay, a native of Somwarpet in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, was reportedly named in a case after a controversial post targeting Congress MLA and legal advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, AS Ponnanna, was shared in a WhatsApp group called Kodagina Samasyegalu.
The post included an edited image of the MLA in traditional Kodava attire alongside a toilet, with derogatory captions. Though Vinay was made an admin of the group only five days before, he was arrested as Accused No. 3 along with the original sender. He was later released on bail and had also secured a stay on the FIR from the High Court.
Even after this legal relief, Vinay alleged in his letter that he faced continued pressure and character assassination from political figures and the police. He directly named Congress functionary Tenneera Maheena and MLA AS Ponnanna, accusing them of harassment and publicly labeling them a criminal.
“For the past two months, I have not been in control of my mind,” Vinay wrote. “A politically motivated FIR was filed against me, and I was labeled a miscreant in society. Tenneera Maheena, who played with my life out of political hatred, is directly responsible for my death.”
He further claimed that efforts were being made to brand him a “rowdy-sheeter,” despite the High Court stay. “How fair is it to keep calling us criminals even after that?” he asked in the letter.
Vinay concluded his note by appealing to the Karnataka BJP leadership to support his wife, daughter, and elderly mother both socially and financially. “Let my death be a lesson,” he wrote, urging an end to politically driven legal action.
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