Techie dies by suicide, leaves note alleging extortion and harassment by civic officials, neighbours

By Sagaya Fernando | December 4, 2025

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: A 45-year-old software engineer from Whitefield died by suicide on Wednesday December 3, leaving behind a 10-page note accusing a neighbouring family and officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) of harassment and extortion linked to his house construction.

Murali Govindaraju, a resident of Brookbong Layout and an employee of a private firm in ITPL, was found hanging at his under-construction home in Nallurahalli on Wednesday morning. He is survived by his wife and two minor daughters.

Following the discovery of the death note, police arrested Shashi Nambiar (64) and his wife Usha (57) on charges of abetment to suicide and extortion. Their son Varun is currently absconding. The couple was produced before a magistrate and remanded in 14-day judicial custody.

According to police, Murali’s handwritten note accused the Nambiars and certain GBA officials of subjecting him to continuous harassment, claiming that his house violated the approved building plan. The note alleges the group repeatedly demanded ₹20 lakh to "settle" the issue and threatened him with official action when he refused to pay.

Murali’s mother, Lakshmi Govindaraju (61), lodged a complaint at Whitefield Police Station, accusing the couple of torturing her son and driving him to suicide. She alleged that Usha Nambiar regularly encouraged GBA officials to visit the construction site and harass Murali under the guise of plan violations.

Police said Murali had purchased the 40x60 sq ft plot from a close relative of the Nambiars in 2018, after which disputes began. “The Nambiars frequently picked fights with him and made him run between BBMP/GBA offices, the police station, and the court for various complaints,” an officer said. “They allegedly demanded ₹20 lakh to stop the harassment.”

Investigators confirmed that GBA officials had issued a notice to Murali, asking him to appear before them on Wednesday — the same day he died. “Usha Nambiar had approached BBMP earlier, accusing Murali of deviating from the approved plan. A notice was issued following spot inspection,” police added.

A senior officer said several locals have complained informally about the Nambiars’ alleged pattern of filing complaints and extorting residents under the pretext of civic activism. “If anyone else has faced similar harassment, we urge them to come forward and file a formal complaint,” the officer said.

Police have registered a case under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.