Businesswoman stripped and forced to pay a bribe of Rs 25 lakh by an Intelligence Department policeman

According to an Indian Express report, a woman accused in the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation scam was found dead at her residence in Padmanabha Nagar, Bengaluru on Friday morning. It is suspected to be a suicide.

In an 11-page note, 33-year-old Jeeva S alleged that the CID officer had mentally and physically harassed her during the investigation, including demanding her to undress and demanding bribes.

Jeeva’s sister Sangeetha S has filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Police against CID Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kanakalakshmi, accusing her of being responsible for the harassment that probably contributed to Jeeva’s death.

The report also pointed out that Jeeva participated in the CID investigation on November 14, as directed by the High Court. In her note, she accused DSP Kanakalakshmi of humiliating her, stripping her during interrogation and asking whether she had cyanide. She further alleged that the officer demanded a bribe of Rs 25 lakh and rejected the documents provided by Jeeva as evidence.

A Times of India report says that Kanakalakshmi is yet to respond to the allegations, but a senior officer confirmed that an investigation is currently underway into the allegations.

The Banashankari police filed a case against DSP Kanakalakshmi under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with government officials soliciting bribes, and Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with abetment of suicide.

The Bhovi Development Corporation scam, exposed in 2021-22, involved the alleged misappropriation of funds intended for loans to the Bhovi community under the government’s employment program. Earlier this year, several cases from Siddapura, Doddaballapur and Kalaga were consolidated and transferred to the CID for investigation.