Money-lender acquitted in farmer's suicide case

Akola, Nov 25 (UNI) An alleged illegal money-lender, accused of involvement in a farmer suicide case which created tension in the west Vidarbha region, has been acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence by a Sessions Court here.

Additional Sessions Judge S R Trivedi, acquitted Gajanan Vakhare yesterday in the suicide case of Premchand Khule, a young farmer of Dadham village in Balapur taluka of this district.

Khule had taken land loan of Rs 3,000 on exorbitant rate of interest from illegal money-lender Bandu Vakhare. The money-lender and his brother Gajanan demanded Rs 7,000 of the same loan and threatened him of dire consequences if the amount was not given, the prosection told the court.

Mr Khule, in depression, committed suicide by consuming poison in forest area of the village and money-lender Bandu Vakhare and Gajanan became accused in the case.

However, Bandu Vakhare was later brutally killed by villagers due to his constant harassment to other borrowers, the court was told.

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