They Beat My Father, Locked Us Away, and Demanded Rahul Gandhi’s Secrets’: Son’s Shocking Testimony Against ED

Bhopal: Just a day after the Union government revealed data showing the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s low conviction rate, a couple in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district died by suicide, alleging harassment by ED officials in their purported suicide note. 

Manoj Parmar and his wife Neha accused officials of raiding their home, assaulting Parmar, locking the family in a room, and seizing cash and gold without proper documentation. The note also alleged political bias, claiming the raid was due to their support for the Congress, with officials reportedly saying, “There wouldn’t have been any case if your family had been with the BJP.” 

This incident has escalated political tensions in the state. The Congress has accused the BJP of misusing central agencies, while BJP leaders have rejected the claims, calling them politically motivated. The data presented in Parliament by the union minister of state for finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, revealed that only 42 (4.6%) of 911 PMLA cases since 2019 have resulted in convictions while over 71% remain pending raising questions about the ED’s effectiveness and accountability. 

Notably, the couple was found dead on Friday (December 13) at their residence with a 5-page suicide note addressed to President Dropadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav and other state officials and media organizations. 

The 5-page suicide letter is written in a detailed manner and point-wise mentions the issues. 

Family and deceased in suicide note accuses ED of abuse

Manoj’s brother, Rajesh Parmar, told eNewsroom about his brother’s disturbed mind following the December 5 raid. He said Manoj stayed with him for three days. He was deeply stressed and repeatedly said he couldn’t endure another jail term. Manoj cited examples of leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi being targeted expressing his hopelessness about justice. He feared being falsely implicated in another case such as income tax fraud, a fear that consumed him.

“ED officials harassed my brother. Despite being acquitted once, he was repeatedly framed in the same case. The 2017 loan case was reopened several times causing him immense stress and the recent raid broke him completely. He felt he couldn’t keep fighting under political pressure. It was the third time, and he decided to end his life, saying, ‘I would rather die once than fight endlessly. The raid seemed like a conspiracy to silence him because Manoj was influential, outspoken, and against the divisive ideologies spreading hatred. He believed in equality, love, and truth over falsehood. Humein to nafrat ki jo vichardhara phela raha hai usse dukh takleef ho rahi hai.” 

“I wasn’t allowed into the house despite repeated requests on December 5. The ED officers came early in the morning and stayed till late at night. They abused Manoj, kicked him, and even denied him access to the bathroom. The family was threatened, locked up, and forbidden from using their phones. The officers said, ‘This raid wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t aligned with Congress,” stated Parmar. 

Manoj, according to the suicide note, faced two FIRs linked to the same incident, with one case concluding in February 2023 when the Sessions Court in Ashta delivered its judgment. However, the second FIR remains under trial in the CBI Court, Bhopal. Manoj and his family were subjected to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on December 5, 2024, while dealing with legal challenges. The raid began at 5 a.m. and continued until late at night. According to Manoj, ED officials confiscated several documents, ₹10 lahks in cash and 70 grams of gold jewellery. The money, he stated, had been borrowed two days earlier from his relative, Dinesh Parmar, a liquor contractor, to settle his wife’s Bank of Baroda loan through a One-Time Settlement (OTS) agreement.

Despite the confiscations, the seizure memo provided by the ED did not list the ₹10 lakh cash or the 70 grams of gold jewellery. Manoj alleged that Assistant Director Sanjit Kumar Sahu and his associate, Radheshyam Bishnoi, deliberately excluded these items from the official record.

He accused ED officials of misbehaving, abusing, and threatening him. 

Rajesh Parmar refuted any claims of his brother’s association with the Congress Party or meeting any political leaders though his children supported it. Manoj guided and encouraged them to stand for their beliefs. They were active on social media which caught public attention. “After his death, the Congress Party assured us of their support. Rahul Gandhi personally called to stand with us. While we appreciate their support, it’s disheartening that no BJP leaders, MLAs, or councillors visited to offer condolences or assurance of justice. Regardless of politics, they should have shown basic humanity. My brother was a victim of political vendetta, yet the BJP remained silent. We’ve spoken to the SP and will file an FIR. We demand justice for Manoj and his family,” said Manoj. 

The couple is survived by three children. Their eldest son, a minor, shared his account with eNewsroom and said, “Despite my young age, I witnessed the pressure BJP and ED put on my father. During the raid, we were locked in a separate room and heard them beating him, demanding information about Rahul Gandhi’s property. My father told them he had never met Gandhi and that only we, his children, were involved with Congress. I was dragged by my collar by ED official Sanjit Kumar Sahu, who interrogated me about Rahul Gandhi’s property and our connection to him. Despite explaining I had no information, he slapped and kicked me before dragging me back to the room.”

“These officers came from Delhi. When my father investigated through his contacts, he learned that VD Sharma and Gopal Singh Engineer, an MLA were behind the complaint that triggered the raid. My father was repeatedly intimidated and told his life would be ruined if we didn’t join the BJP. The ED officials also took Rs 10 lakh, which we had borrowed to settle a loan and 70 grams of my mother’s jewellery. None of this was recorded in the panchnama. Sanjit Kumar Sahu continuously threatened and harassed my father. I have no fear because I am on truth. What happened to him was unjust and unbearable for us.” 

Manoj’s three children gained attention during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra by presenting him with their Gullak (piggy bank) as a gesture.

Congress alleges BJP misuse of central agencies

Congress MLA Arif Masood visited the family along with other party officials. He said, Manoj had only encouraged his children, who became active during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. While Manoj was reportedly involved in some cases, there are allegations that the ED pressured the family distressing the couple. This is deeply unfortunate. “Whatever the accusations, it was the Court’s role to decide, not the ED or bureaucracy. Questions arise about the ED’s conduct; if there were grounds, a case should have been filed instead of resorting to harassment. The ED appears to be acting under government influence rather than independently. The children claim officials told them this wouldn’t have happened had they joined the BJP. This implies that joining the BJP protect one even in cases of corruption. Our party stands firmly with the children,” Masood noted. 

Manoj Parmar in his seven-point note requested the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi to take responsibility for his children. 

However, Madhya Pradesh’s BJP government Minister, Vishwas Sarang told eNewsroom, “There is no truth to these claims. This is a sensitive matter, and it is currently under investigation. We should wait for the report before concluding. There is no pressure from the party; why would the party push for the membership of one individual? The ED operates independently and is not under any external influence.