M A I N   N E W S

Officials ‘hound’ miller to death
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

RAMPURAPHUL, Oct 3 — Gopal Chand Garg, a leading industrialist of this town and his wife Veenu Garg were allegedly driven to commit suicide by officials of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation late last night.

Police sources said that Mr Garg and his wife Veenu Garg reportedly consumed poison at home last night. They were found dead in the morning.

In their suicide note left in their house Gopal Chand said he was running a rice sheller in the name of his wife Veenu Garg. Officials of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation had supplied them with substandard paddy for milling in 1999 even after taking large bribes.

Because of the quality of paddy, they suffered losses as the recovery of milled rice was reduced. When they were unable to supply officials started threatening them with legal proceedings and demanded further bribes to avoid facing a criminal case.

Gopal sold his stock of rice bran, rice husk, even the telephone connection of the rice mill located at Bhucho Mandi to raise money for the bribe.

Due to their losses, Gopal was also under pressure from the rice mills owner from whom he had taken the mill on rent. To clear his outstanding he eventually sold his house for Rs 8.20 lakh.

In their suicide note the couple mentioned that in case of any accident the sale proceed of their house should be given to their three children. It says they were yet to recover 1997 bags of their paddy from the Food Corporation of India while 900 bags of rice belonging to them was lying in godowns of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation at Bhucho Mandi.

Official sources said that a criminal case against Gopal Chand Garg and his wife, Veenu Garg was registered on the complaint of officials of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in the recent past under Section 406 of IPC and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act.

They said the deceased were booked for selling paddy worth lakhs of rupees belonging to Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in the open market.

The suicide note mentions the name of three officials of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation.

Police sources said a case in this connection would be registered after getting a legal opinion.