The Tiruverumbur police in Tiruchi are investigating the death of an employee of the Natarajapuram Agriculture Cooperative Bank whose body was found hanging from a tree at Thogur near the Grand Anicut on Friday.

According official sources, Swaminathan, 58, of Arasankudi near Tiruverumbur, was a clerk in the cooperative bank. On June 30, the Cooperative Department officials detected jewellery loan fraud at the bank during an audit.

Meanwhile, on July 4, the body of Swaminathan was found at Thogur near the Grand Anicut.

Subsequently, Swaminathan’s wife, Thamaraiselvi, lodged a complaint with the Tiruverumbur police holding the senior officials of the cooperative bank responsible for the death of her husband. She claimed that Swaminathan was forced to shell out ₹6 lakh as “punishment”. However, the bank officials continued to pressure Swaminathan to pay another ₹6 lakh to “settle” the issue, she said in her complaint, sources added.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).