Sarpanch ends life after threat from members

Harshad Patel, sarpanch of BJP-ruled Vanch gram panchayat in Kanbha taluka of Ahmedabad district, committed suicide, after being charged with cheating by four members of the panchayat. 

Patel consumed poison in his farm, near the village on Tuesday afternoon. He was rushed to LG hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Kanbha police have registered a case of accidental death. The police recovered a suicide note from his body. “The suicide note says that four members of the panchayat were threatening him to pass a no-confidence motion against him,” a Kanbha police source said.

Patel named Keshaji Punjaji, Natwar Makanbhai, Dinesh Mafatbhai and Navghan Bhikabhai as the prime accused, who defamed him as they wanted an illegal commission from a development work done by the panchayat.

Sub inspector PK Bhrambhatt told DNA , “Prima facie, it appears that he committed suicide due to the internal politics of the panchayat.”