Vijayawada: An 35-year-old auto rickshaw driver named Raavi Sattibabu died by suicide after allegedly facing severe harassment from a finance company in Moturu village of Gudivada mandal.
According to police, Raavi had taken a loan of 7.80 lakh from a finance company. He was required to pay the monthly instalment by the 5th of every month. However, due to health issues in his family, Raavi was unable to make the payment until Jan 25. Despite informing the finance company about his situation, the officials reportedly refused to consider his request.
The finance company staff allegedly pasted a notice on his house, stating that the property was mortgaged and could not be used for any other transactions. Furthermore, on Thursday, the company agents reportedly created a scene at the auto stand, further harassing him. Unable to bear the pressure and humiliation, Raavi decided to end his life.
However, before taking the extreme step, Raavi posted a message on his Facebook profile, stating the finance company’s recovery agents were responsible for his death.
“My wife was unwell, and I couldn’t pay the auto instalment on time. I asked for a month’s extension, but they didn’t listen. The harassment by recovery agents, the branch manager, and the credit manager forced me to take this extreme step. Please ensure justice for my family,” he social media post read.
Raavi wife Padmavati said, “On Tuesday, they (recovery agents) came to our house and refused to leave until the payment was made. They stayed from 4 pm to 10:30 pm, even though my husband was not at home. I told them I would inform him when he returned, but they didn’t listen. They even threatened to lock our house. The next day, they created a ruckus at the Moturu auto stand. I was unwell and had to visit the hospital in Machilipatnam on Thursday. In the meantime, my husband posted his final message on Facebook and ended his life by hanging himself with a saree at home.”
Left with the responsibility of raising their two children by herself, Padmavati urged the police to take strict action against those responsible for her husband’s death. The cops have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
