Karwar, 25 Jan

Three people were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of a pharmacist by circulating a defamatory video about him.

The deceased was Rajeev Shripada Pikle, 67. He was working at a private hospital owned by his brother in the Aversa village of Ankola taluk in Uttara Kannada district. The accused had shot a video while quizzing Pikle about selling expired medicine to a patient.

The accused confronted Pikle on Friday, accusing him of supplying expired medicines. They allegedly recorded a video of the argument and uploaded it on social media, where it soon went viral.

Dr Sanjeev Shripada Pikale, brother of the deceased, told Salar News, "I have filed a complaint against three accused. On Friday, my brother Rajeev Pikle shot himself at the residence and died."

Police said Dr Pikle looked composed and confident in the video while responding to the charges. But the video went viral, and he later came under severe stress and shot himself at his house. Ankola police said all three had been arrested.

Ankola Police Inspector Chandrashekhar told Salar News: "In connection with the suicide case of Rajeev Pikle, three accused were arrested on Saturday - Anil Naik, 48; Harishchandra Naik, 50, and Subhash Naik, 42, all residents of Vailawad village in Karwar taluk."