Alot (Madhya Pradesh): The suicide of RD Sharma, a devout family man and warehouse manager, has shaken the Alot tehsil of Ratlam district, revealing a sinister web of coercion and corruption.
BJP leader and warehouse owner Manoj Kala faces serious allegations, as WhatsApp chats expose attempts to pressure Sharma into allowing soybean stock with 20% soil, far above the permissible limit of 2%.
In a heart-wrenching revelation, Sharma named Manoj Kala and Rajesh Parmar as responsible for his death. “They made the stored grain disappear and harassed me for a year,” wrote Sharma, who had always been a stickler for rules.
Grab of WhatsApp chat reportedly between warehouse owner Manoj Kala and manager RD Sharma
JUSTICE DEMANDED
Sharma’s family, especially his daughter, has been vocal about seeking justice. “My father was deeply religious and led a life of integrity. He was pushed to the edge by Kala’s pressures. We demand his arrest and strict punishment.”
INVESTIGATION IN FULL SWING
Authorities have sealed 24 warehouses in the Alot-Taal area, with probes led by senior officials from the MP Warehousing and Logistics Corporation. Inspections have revealed irregularities, though results are still pending. On Monday, a team from the MP Warehousing and Logistics Corporation, led by GM Sanjeev Tomar, arrived in Alot to begin a thorough investigation into the operations of local warehouses.
They have been reviewing documentation and inspecting stock at multiple sites, including the Sri Krishna Warehouse. The preliminary findings from the investigation are yet to be disclosed, with regional manager BS Indolia indicating that the inquiry is still in its early stages.
Timeline
December 12, 6 pm: Kala sends an audio message pressuring Sharma to approve soybean stocks with 20% soil content. December 13: Sharma consumes celphos at home, citing harassment in a suicide note. December 14: Sharma succumbs to poisoning in Ujjain during treatment.
Statistics of Discrepancy
Permissible Soil Content in Soybean: 2%
Demanded by Kala: 20%
This blatant deviation highlights the scale of malpractice within the warehousing system.
