Repeated crop losses and mounting debt are said to be the reason for the extreme step. According to a complaint lodged by his wife, he had been under severe financial stress after consecutive crop failures caused by inadequate rainfall. The borrowed money was invested in cultivation, but inadequate rainfall once again caused the standing crop to wither. According to the complaint, Maheshappa became increasingly worried that he would be unable to repay the loans. In her complaint, his wife attributed the extreme step to financial distress arising from successive crop failures and mounting debt.