Case of death of a businesswoman due to harassment by DSP-CID referred to CCB

The case of a 35-year-old businesswoman, who died by suicide after being allegedly harassed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been transferred to the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for a detailed investigation.

The victim, Jeeva, was one of the accused in the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation scam. Jeeva was called to DSP-CID Kanakalakshmi’s office, where she was allegedly stripped and humiliated on the pretext of interrogation.

The officer allegedly refused to accept the documents submitted by the businesswoman and reportedly demanded a bribe of ₹25 lakh. On Thursday, the officer visited the victim’s store again and publicly insulted and humiliated her, prompting Jeeva to take her own life.

She left an 11-page note accusing the officer. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s sister, the Banashankari police registered a case of abetment to suicide and also booked the officer under the Prevention of Corruption Act. After the bar association demanded a CBI probe, the city police commissioner ordered a CCB probe.

In 2023, the state government ordered an inquiry into an alleged fraud involving misappropriation of millions of rupees. The accused allegedly created a list of fake beneficiaries under the scheme, collected their signatures on RTGS forms and transferred ₹5 lakh each to their bank accounts, while the actual beneficiaries received only ₹25,000 each.

(If you are in distress or suicidal, please contact 24/7 helpline: KIRAN 1800-599-0019 or Arogya Sahayavani on 104 for help)