Auto Driver Sets Himself Ablaze After Financer Refuses To Take Old Notes

Hyderabad: Depressed after a financier refused to accept payment in demonetized currency notes, an auto rickshaw driver immolated himself in Armoor town of Nizamabad district on Sunday. Basheer went to the financier to repay loans for his vehicle in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Financier did not accept the old currency notes from Basheer and afraid of losing the money, he poured kerosene and set himself ablaze

Sheik Basheer (35), sustained over 80 percent burns, was admitted to Nizamabad hospital but succumbed to injures on Tuesday.

Sub-Inspector Santosh Kumar said, "Financier did not accept the old currency notes from Basheer and afraid of losing the money, he poured kerosene and set himself ablaze."

According to Basheer's family members, he went to the financier to pay the monthly installment of Rs 6,000 towards the loan he had taken for his three-wheeler. They said he had approached several banks to exchange the currency but did not succeed.