MP couple found dead: Suicide note blames ED, BJP harassment

Bhopal: The deaths of businessman Manoj Parmar and his wife Neha in Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, have ignited a political controversy after a purported suicide note surfaced, accusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and BJP leaders of harassment. The couple was found hanging in their home in Ashta town on Friday morning.

The note, which was allegedly written by Parmar, was addressed to President of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, among others. Parmar urged Gandhi to look after his children, accusing the ED and BJP leaders of targeting him due to his political affiliations. Parmar and his wife were known supporters of the Congress party, and their children had gifted a piggy bank to Gandhi during his "Bharat Jodo Yatra."

Sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP) Akash Amalkar confirmed that the police had received the note but did not disclose further details, stating that the investigation was ongoing and the family had not yet been questioned due to their mourning.

In response, Congress leader Jitu Patwari condemned the death as a "state-sponsored murder," claiming the couple was harassed by the ED to pressure them into joining the BJP. He also criticized the government for using investigative agencies to target political opponents. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath echoed similar sentiments, stating that Parmar's death was a result of the BJP's harassment tactics. Nath emphasized that Parmar's children had supported the "Bharat Jodo Yatra," which, he argued, made the family a target.

Ashish Agrawal, BJP's media in-charge, rejected the allegations, accusing Congress of politicizing the tragedy. He condemned the opposition's attempts to use the deaths for their own gain, calling it an example of "vulture-like behavior."

The ED's Bhopal zonal official, in a release, stated that the agency had conducted searches at Parmar's residences on December 5 in connection with a money laundering investigation. The ED claimed Parmar had misused government loans under the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme and Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Yojana, diverting funds into personal ventures. The agency also froze a bank balance of Rs 3.5 lakh and identified several properties linked to the case.

The ED’s investigation was launched based on an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Parmar and a senior branch manager at Punjab National Bank (PNB) for fraudulent activities. The agency claimed that loans worth nearly Rs 6 crore were misappropriated and diverted into unauthorized accounts.

The ED's probe continues, with authorities yet to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths of Manoj Parmar and Neha.

With PTI inputs