BENGALURU: A 45-year-old software engineer, Murali Govindaraju, tragically took his own life in his under-construction home in Nallurahalli on Wednesday. His death came just hours before he was due to meet officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) regarding a civic notice. Murali left behind a 10-page death note, in which he accused his neighbours and civic officials of driving him to this extreme decision.

Murali, who worked at ITPL and was a father to two young daughters, had been facing immense pressure from a long-standing dispute with his neighbours, Shashi Nambiar (64) and Usha (57). The couple allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh from him to cease their accusations regarding violations of building plans. Following his death, police arrested the Nambiars on charges of abetment and extortion, and they have been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. Their son, Varun, is currently being sought by the authorities.

According to police reports, Murali's mother, Lakshmi Govindaraju, filed a complaint stating that her son had been “harassed, tortured and repeatedly threatened” by the Nambiars. She revealed that the couple had set a deadline for Murali to pay the demanded amount, which he could not meet. The conflict began in 2018 when Murali purchased a 40x60 sqft plot from a relative of the Nambiars. Tensions escalated as Usha and Shashi accused him of deviating from the approved construction plan.

On the morning of his death, Murali expressed to his family that he was under significant stress due to the ongoing harassment. He left home early, stating he was going to the construction site, where he ultimately took his life. Police have charged the Nambiars under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Investigations revealed that the Nambiars had filed multiple complaints against Murali since 2018, forcing him to navigate through various civic offices and legal proceedings. GBA officials confirmed that they had issued a notice to Murali, following complaints made by Usha regarding alleged violations. Local residents have come forward, claiming that the Nambiars have a history of filing complaints to extort money from others in the area. Authorities are urging any affected residents to come forward with their experiences.