Idukki man's suicide: Wife says bank denied money multiple times, Rs 14 lakh still withheld

Idukki: A day after the suicide of a man in front of the Kattappana Rural Development Cooperative Society, his wife has levelled serious allegations against the bank officials. Mulangasseril Sabu (56), a textile shop owner from Kattappana, was found hanging on the staircase of the cooperative bank administered by CPM, on Friday morning.

In his suicide note, Sabu stated that he took the extreme step after the bank officials denied the withdrawal of a portion of his deposits and illtreated him. 

Speaking to Manorama News, Sabu's wife, Marykutty, accused a bank official named Binoy of verbally abusing her husband when he sought to withdraw his money.

"His entire savings is deposited in the cooperative bank. He recently visited the bank to withdraw Rs 2 lakh for my surgery, but they only gave him Rs 80,000 in two instalments. The bank secretary told him no more money would be released. Later, former bank president VR Saji threatened my husband. He was extremely heartbroken and told me he felt trapped. A total of Rs 14 lakh in his account is still being withheld by the bank," said Marykutty.

She further alleged that Sabu had been trying to withdraw his money for the past year to cover her medical expenses. Marykutty had undergone surgery to remove her uterus, and Sabu intended to use his savings for her treatment and related expenses. However, the bank reportedly cited insufficient funds due to loan distributions as the reason for denying the withdrawal of his money.

Meanwhile, an audio clip of VR Saji, the former area secretary of the Kattappana CPM committee, has surfaced. In the recording, Saji can allegedly be heard threatening Sabu for his behaviour towards bank officials.

In his suicide note, Sabu accused bank secretary Reji and officials Binoy and Suja Mol of mistreating him and denying his rightful access to his funds. The police have initiated an investigation and will record the statements of these individuals as part of the initial probe.

Law enforcement authorities have also collected CCTV footage from the bank. Preliminary examination of the footage reportedly does not show any evidence of a confrontation between Sabu and the bank staff.

Sabu's mortal remains were taken to the mortuary of a private hospital in Kattappana after an autopsy at the Idukki Government Medical College Hospital. His funeral will be held once his relatives, who are abroad, return home.