A 56-year-old lawyer was found dead hanging inside his house at Irulam near Pulpally, in Wayanad on Thursday.
The police identified the deceased as Tomy of Mundottu Chundayil at Irulam. Mr. Tomy was the former additional public prosecutor and additional government pleader.
Mr. Tomy and his wife Pushpa were staying in their house and he had sent his wife to her home at Pattavayal in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The lawyer had borrowed ₹12 lakh from the Pulpally branch of the South Indian Bank 10 years ago for house construction. But he could not repay the amount owing to various reasons, his relatives said.
The bank authorities had warned him that he would have to pay ₹16 lakh and if he failed to pay the dues, they would initiate revenue recovery measures. Though he had paid ₹3 lakh and given a cheque for ₹1 lakh, the authorities, who visited his house on Wednesday, compelled him to pay the entire dues at once, relatives said.
It is suspected that the huge debt prompted him to take the extreme step. Mr. Tomy is survived by his wife and two children.
However, the bank authorities said in a release that they have been trying to amicably settle the account over the past six years without any pressure on the customer and have, till date, not taken possession of the property based on the commitment given by the customer.
Mr. Tomy had availed a housing loan of ₹10 lakh and a KCC loan of ₹2 lakh from the Pulpally branch, in 2013. Due to defaults in repayment, the account was classified as a Non-performing asset (NPA) in 2015. Later, the bank initiated the proceedings as per law for recovering the dues. Over the past six years, since the account turned NPA, the bank had been amicably trying to settle the matter with the customer.
Despite the support extended by the bank to settle the dues, the account continued to be in default. After multiple visits for six years, the bank followed due process and initiated SARFAESI proceeding for recovering the dues and with the support of the court received an order for taking physical possession of the said property.
The bank’s officials had visited the premises on Wednesday along with Advocate Commissioner, police and bank officials to follow legal procedure. After discussions with the customer and others in the community, the customer promised to pay a settlement amount of ₹16 lakh within a period of 10 days. An initial amount of ₹4 lakh was remitted on the same day itself. A letter confirming this commitment, signed by the customer and mediators, was also submitted to the bank.
There has been no pressure from the bank on the customer over the matter and the bank had tried for an amicable settlement with the customer, the authorities said.
Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on Disha’s suicide prevention helpline at 1056, 0471-2552056.
