A dream home and a peaceful neighbourhood are every middle-class family’s biggest hopes, a place built brick by brick with savings, sacrifices, and years of waiting. But, for 45-year-old techie Murali Govindaraju, that dream became the reason for his death. What should have been the start of a new chapter instead became the place where his life tragically ended. Trapped between a bitter neighbourhood feud, repeated civic notices, and an alleged Rs 20-lakh extortion demand he said he could not afford, Murali was found dead inside his under-construction home on Wednesday morning. Just hours later, he was supposed to face officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Instead, his family was left with unanswered questions, and a city was left staring at yet another grim reminder of how pressure, harassment, and broken systems can crush ordinary lives.
The software professional was found dead inside his under-construction house in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested his neighbours on charges of abetting suicide after a 10-page death note accused them and civic officials of harassment linked to a Rs 20-lakh extortion demand.
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Murali Govindaraju, who worked at a private software firm in ITPL and lived in Brookbong Layout, Whitefield, died by suicide at his house in Nallurahalli. He is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. Police arrested Shashi Nambiar (64) and his wife Usha (57), while their son Varun is absconding. The couple has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
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Lakshmi alleged that after Murali declined to pay, Usha repeatedly approached BBMP officials, triggering frequent inspections at the construction site. The continued visits and legal pressure reportedly pushed Murali into severe mental stress.
On Wednesday morning, Murali left home around 6 am. Before leaving, he told his family that Shashi and Usha were “torturing” him. He went to the building site and took his life.
Police registered a case under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
GBA officials confirmed that Murali had received a notice directing him to appear for a hearing on Wednesday. “Usha approached BBMP alleging violations. After a spot inspection, BBMP issued a notice,” the officer said. “The couple allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to stop harassing him.”
Police also said local residents have now begun coming forward with similar allegations. “People in the area say many homes have faced similar harassment,” the officer said. “We request all affected residents to file complaints.”
(Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, please seek help immediately. You can find resources in India here.)
The software professional was found dead inside his under-construction house in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested his neighbours on charges of abetting suicide after a 10-page death note accused them and civic officials of harassment linked to a Rs 20-lakh extortion demand.
Also Read: Air India faces backlash after Anoushka Shankar says her sitar was broken in transit; Shares video of 'unthinkable' damage
Murali Govindaraju, who worked at a private software firm in ITPL and lived in Brookbong Layout, Whitefield, died by suicide at his house in Nallurahalli. He is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. Police arrested Shashi Nambiar (64) and his wife Usha (57), while their son Varun is absconding. The couple has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Neighbourhood feud, civic notice, and a crushing Rs 20L demand
- Murali’s death note and police investigation point to a long-running dispute over his house construction.
- Murali Govindaraju, a 45-year-old techie from Nallurahalli, died by suicide on Wednesday morning
- He was found hanging on the second floor of his under-construction house
- He was supposed to appear before Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials the same day
- He recorded sustained harassment linked to a neighbourhood dispute
- A civic notice from GBA added to his stress
- He wrote that he could not afford the alleged Rs 20-lakh demand
- He blamed a neighbouring family for obstructing his construction
- He also accused certain GBA officials of pressuring him
- The death note details alleged harassment and repeated threats
- He said the pressure broke him mentally and financially
A dream home that turned into a trap
Murali had purchased the 40x60 sqft plot in 2018 from a relative of the Nambiars. Problems began soon after construction started, with repeated objections raised over alleged deviation from the approved building plan.According to police, Murali’s mother Lakshmi Govindaraju (61) filed a criminal complaint based on the contents of the death note. She told investigators that her son had been “harassed, tortured and repeatedly threatened” by Shashi and Usha, who allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to stop filing complaints against him. She said Wednesday was the deadline they had set.Also Read: 19-minute viral video controversy sparks buzz on social media: Can sharing the clip land you in jail? Here's what the law says
Lakshmi alleged that after Murali declined to pay, Usha repeatedly approached BBMP officials, triggering frequent inspections at the construction site. The continued visits and legal pressure reportedly pushed Murali into severe mental stress.
On Wednesday morning, Murali left home around 6 am. Before leaving, he told his family that Shashi and Usha were “torturing” him. He went to the building site and took his life.
Police registered a case under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
GBA notice and repeated complaints added to pressure
A senior police officer said preliminary inquiry revealed that the Nambiars had filed multiple complaints since 2018, forcing Murali to repeatedly visit “BBMP offices, the police station, and local courts.”GBA officials confirmed that Murali had received a notice directing him to appear for a hearing on Wednesday. “Usha approached BBMP alleging violations. After a spot inspection, BBMP issued a notice,” the officer said. “The couple allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to stop harassing him.”
Police also said local residents have now begun coming forward with similar allegations. “People in the area say many homes have faced similar harassment,” the officer said. “We request all affected residents to file complaints.”
(Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, please seek help immediately. You can find resources in India here.)
