Borabanda man dies by suicide after alleged harassment from Baba Fasiuddin, municipal staff over bribe

Hyderabad: A 35-year-old man in Borabanda, Hyderabad, died by suicide on Wednesday night, allegedly after enduring months of harassment and intimidation from a local corporator and municipal staff.

The incident has prompted outrage in the community and calls for a formal investigation into alleged abuse of power and corruption in the city’s civic administration.

Threats after the family refused to pay bribes for home renovation

The deceased, Mohammed Sardar, a medical shop owner and resident of SRT Nagar, reportedly jumped from the third floor of his home around 9 pm on May 28. He was rushed to Renova Neelima Hospital in Sanath Nagar, where he was declared brought dead.

In a complaint filed with the police, Sardar’s younger brother, Mohammed Ibrahim, alleged that his brother had been under severe mental distress over the last three months due to repeated threats and extortion attempts by Baba Fasuddin, the local corporator of Borabanda, and his associates. The pressure reportedly began after the family refused to pay bribes linked to the renovation of their home.

According to Ibrahim, the situation escalated when Fasuddin, accompanied by his wife Habeeba Sultana and with support from allegedly corrupt town planning officials, demolished the third floor of their house.

The following day, Fasuddin allegedly issued another threat, saying: “It has not ended with the third floor. I have the entire municipal department in my hands and will demolish your house down to the foundations.”

Ibrahim told the police that Sardar, overwhelmed by the threats and feeling responsible for the crisis facing his family, took the extreme step despite the family's efforts to console him.

Many families in Borabanda are facing harassment

The family has submitted Sardar’s mobile phone to the police as evidence and has named Baba Fasuddin, Habeeba Sultana, PA Saptagiri, and several unidentified town planning officials in their complaint, holding them responsible for abetment to suicide.

“This is not just about one family,” Ibrahim stated. “Many people in Borabanda are being harassed in similar ways. We need justice and systemic reform.”

The police have acknowledged receipt of the complaint and said that an investigation is underway. As of Thursday evening, no arrests have been made.