Vice-President of Karnataka Contractor’s Association dies, chief alleges foulplay

Ambikapathy, Vice President of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, died of a heart attack on Monday (November 27). He was 70 years old.

Meanwhile, D Kempanna, the President of the Karnataka Contractors Association has alleged a former minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) subjected Ambikapathy to severe torture, leading to his demise.

Kempanna attributed his death to the stress inflicted upon him.

Kempanna also alleged that Ambikapathy was made a scapegoat, in connection with an Income Tax raid at the latter’s properties.

The association’s vice president died over a month after Income Tax (IT) officials raided his properties in Bengaluru, where the officials found around Rs 42 crore on October 13.

The Income Tax sleuths reportedly searched the residence of Ambikapathy’s brother, Pradeep, finding 23 boxes filled with Rs 500 denomination notes. Additionally, documents relating to bank accounts and lockers were also seized.

The IT raids were conducted on properties belonging to Ambikapathy’s wife, Ashwathamma, a former corporator of ward number 95 in Bengaluru.

Allegations also surfaced that the money discovered during the IT raids was allegedly intended to be sent to Telangana by the Karnataka Congress government for election purposes.