India, July 25 -- MUMBAI

A day after a Sangli-based contractor died by suicide allegedly over pending dues of Rs.1.40 crore for work related to the state's Jal Jeevan Mission, the government claimed he was a sub-contractor, and not appointed by the government. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and contractors' body have however termed the death as "murder, a consequence of mismanagement of the state's finances".

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, said, "The incident is unfortunate, but he was a sub-contractor and the government had no role in paying his fees. There is a process for releasing contractors' bills. We will, however, probe the death."

While minister of water supply and sanitation, G...