Why no murder case against government over demonetisation deaths: Congress

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil today sought to know why a case for "murder" should not be filed against Maharashtra government for deaths linked to demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

"Why a case under section 302 of IPC (punishment for murder) should not be filed against the state government for deaths due to demonetisation?" asked the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

He alleged that an infant girl died in Pune as a private hospital denied her treatment as her parents could not pay entire fees in new currency.

The Congress leader also claimed that a retired employee of a nationalised bank committed suicide at Saoner in Nagpur district as he reportedly suffered heavy loss in his business in the wake of demonetisation.

"Despite the government directive that private hospitals should accept old notes and cheque, the hospitals are not heeding the instructions," he alleged.