Belagavi tahsildar dies mysteriously, family accuses wife, her brother for death

BELAGAVI: The death of Belagavi grade-2 tahsildar Ashok Mannikeri has taken a curious twist with the family members filing a complaint at the Belagavi Camp police station against the tahsildar’s wife and her brother over his suspicious death.

Ashok Mannikeri, a grade-2 tahsildar at the Belagavi AC’s office, died on Thursday. Now, his family is accusing his wife Bhumi and her brother Samuel.

Ashok Mannikeri’s family lived in Kali Ambraya apartment in Belagavi. Ashok’s wife and brother took him to a private hospital claiming that he had a severe heart attack late on Wednesday night, but he had died by the time he reached the hospital. Now Ashok’s family members are demanding a probe into his death.

Ashok’s sister has lodged a complaint at the Belagavi Camp police station and friends and relatives gathered large numbers in front of the police station. Meanwhile, Ashok’s wife Bhumi, who had come to the police station, tried to assault Ashok’s wife and brother Samuel. Immediately, they were rescued by the police and taken away.

The deceased’s elder sister Girija insisted the police launch an investigation into his death. Ashok Mannikeri served as a personal assistant to lawmaker Laxmi Hebbalkar when she won the 2018 elections.

Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar expressed condolences over the sudden demise of Ashok Mannikeri. “His death is very painful. We have lost a person with vast knowledge and experience”, Hebbalkar said when she came to see the mortal remains of departed soul at his home.

The body was brought to his residence in Vaibhav Nagar after the post-mortem at KLE Hospital. The family members performed the last rites at Sadashiva Nagar Crematorium in Belagavi.