Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Chandrashekhar Sahu found himself in trouble after a class III employee of his department committed suicide on July 2, on the minister’s birthday, allegedly due to harassment by the minister and his relatives.

An employee of the Navapara Krishi Upaj Mandi (Centre for procurement of agriculture produce), Chabiram Sahu who hails from the minister’s hometown of Manikchori near Abhanpur committed suicide on July 2. He had initially been transferred to Naxalite-affected Bhopalpattanam in South Bastar and the order was later modified to post him at Baramkala village in Raigarh district.

Quoting family members of the deceased, senior Congress leader and former minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed that Chabiram had left a “suicide note” alleging harassment by the minister and his relatives. Baghel demanded resignation of the minister and that a case of abetment to suicide be registered against him.

Chandrasekhar Sahu has, however, denied the charges levelled against him and accused state Congress president Dhanendra Sahu for ‘conspiring’ against him.

State mandi board managing director R K Singh denied interference from any quarter in Chabiram’s transfer.

PCC president Dhanendra Sahu has demanded a high level probe into the circumstances that led to the death, alleging that the police was trying to hush up the case.