Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala assembly on Wednesday witnessed opposition leaders castigating the ruling Left Democratic Front government over the suicide of an NRI businessman in Kannur. The 49-year-old investor reportedly took his life after local authorities inordinately delayed permission to his venture.

Sajan Parayil, 49, an NRI businessman who was involved in agri-business in Africa, was found hanging in his home in Kannur on Tuesday. He had invested roughly Rs160 million in an auditorium in Anthoor municipality, but was depressed because the official permissions for the building were not coming through.

No suicide note was found, but police have filed a case of unnatural death and an investigation is on.

Opposition member in the state assembly, Sunny Joseph, MLA, brought the incident to the attention of the House on Wednesday.

Other opposition MLAs also criticised the government for the unhelpful attitude to investors in Kerala. “It was not just that the single window clearance facility for investors did not exist in this case, but the fact was that all windows were shut in the face of Sajan Parayil by the authorities”, said Indian Union Muslim League leader M.K. Muneer.

Muneer was alluding to the state government’s avowed policy to ensure quick clearances for investors through a single window clearance system.

“For a building completion certificate that should come from the village level, Sajan Parayil has even come to Thiruvananthapuram to meet ministers. And despite ministerial intervention, the building certificates were not issued. There have also been other instances when local leaders have abetted suicides of NRI investors. If this is the case, how will NRI investors come to Kerala? What security do they have?’, asked Muneer.

Parayil’s manager K. Sajeevan told a local television channel that his boss was not used to the “red-tapism in Kerala”. Sajeevan said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had once reminded government officials that each file was virtually somebody’s life, and that in this case, Sajan Parayil’s very life was lost because of bureaucratic delay.

Anthoor municipality officials have, however, denied any role on their part in the matters leading to Parayil’s death.

Parayil’s wife Beena said her husband had been “severely depressed” in recent days and could not even sleep, worried over the delay in getting the building number allotment.

Parayil was based in Nigeria and had businesses across 20 countries, and it was his dream to set up a venture in his home state, too, and generate jobs, his manager said.