Bengaluru bizwoman was stripped, senior police officer demanded Rs 25 lakh: Kin

BENGALURU: The suicide of 33-year-old businesswoman S Jeeva, who was picked up for questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation scam, has taken an intriguing turn: a senior police officer has been accused of abetting Jeeva’s death by stripping her and demanding bribe of Rs 25 lakh during investigation.
Based on a complaint lodged by Jeeva’s younger sister S Sangeeta, an FIR was registered at Banashankari police station against CID deputy superintendent of police Kanakalakshmi. Sangeeta’s complaint states that Jeeva visited the CID headquarters on Palace Road on November 14.
“The Supreme Court directed the police to interrogate Jeeva through video conferencing from November 14 to 23. Instead, the cops ordered her to appear before DSP Kanakalakshmi, following which Jeeva went to the CID headquarters on November 14. That day, Kanakalakshmi undressed her, stating that Jeeva might have hidden the cyanide under her underwear.
Moreover, Kanakalakshmi took Jeeva to her wood materials shop in Peenya for investigation where she insulted the businesswoman in front of everyone,” reads a copy of Sangeeta’s complaint.
An FIR has been registered against Kanakalakshmi on charges of abetment to suicide under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further, Sangeeta’s complaint states that Jeeva provided sufficient documents to Kanakalakshmi, but he demanded Rs 25 lakh from her.
Kanakalakhsmi is yet to comment on the allegations, but a senior officer said the allegations are being investigated.
On Friday, Jeeva, a law graduate, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom. Her 11-page death certificate shows that she suffered humiliation during the police investigation. The incident came to light when Sangeeta alerted his friend when Jeeva did not respond to calls. A friend visited the house and looked through the window and saw Jeeva hanging.
Jeeva will supply wood materials to Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation. The fraud, discovered in November 2023, is being investigated by the CID. Prima facie, there was misuse of Rs 97 crore which was transferred to the accounts of over 500 fake beneficiaries.