Karnataka: Former DySP Handibag was deeply disturbed' by media reports

Bengaluru: The former deputy superintendent of police Kalappa Handibag (30), Chikmagaluru, who had committed suicide on July 5 after being accused in a kidnapping and ransom case was a “sensitive” man and was reportedly “deeply disturbed at being branded as a kalla (thief) by a section of media,” said an official source.

Handibag had committed suicide after he heard that an FIR had been filed against him and four others in a kidnapping and ransom case, following a complaint by one person by the name of Thejas Gowda H.M. against Handibag. Thejas, along with 23 others, was arrested by police on charges of gambling hours before he alleged that he was kidnapped on June 28 and Handibag was behind his kidnapping.

According to his colleagues, Handibag was quiet person and used to keep to himself. “He was very sensitive and couldn't bear the media onslaught on him. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the abetment (of his suicide) case under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is trying to find out whether the deceased officer was indeed involved in the heinous crime of kidnap and ransom or there was someone else behind this. The chain of events is seemingly suspicious because Handibag was never before accused of corruption. Was he a victim of the huge gambling mafia in Chikmagaluru is for the CID to investigate. But what is reportedly emerging is that he couldn't withstand the media trial and was unable to see his image being tarnished in public,” said an official source.

The CID has reportedly found several discrepancies in the allegations made by Thejas, who had accused Handibag of kidnapping him and releasing him after he was reportedly paid a ransom of Rs 10 lakh.