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

BENGALURU: The death by suicide of 33-year-old businesswoman S Jeeva, who was picked up for questioning by 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 Rs 25 lakh bribe during investigation.

Based on a complaint lodged by Jeeva's younger sister S Sangeeta, an FIR has been registered at Banashankari police station against CID deputy superintendent of police Kanakalakshmi. Sangeeta's complaint states that on Nov 14, Jeeva visited the CID headquarters on Palace Road.

"The high court had directed police to question Jeeva through videoconference between Nov 14 and 23. Instead, cops directed her to appear before DSP Kanakalakshmi, and Jeeva accordingly went to the CID headquarters on Nov 14. That day, Kanakalakshmi stripped her, stating Jeeva could have hidden cyanide beneath her undergarments.

Further, Kanakalakshmi took Jeeva to her wood material shop in Peenya for a spot investigation, and there, she insulted the businesswoman before everyone," Sangeeta's complaint copy read.

The FIR has been registered against Kanakalakshmi on charges of abetment to suicide and under Prevention of Corruption Act. Further, Sangeeta's complaint said Jeeva provided sufficient documents to Kanakalakshmi, but the latter demanded Rs 25 lakh from her.

Kanakalakhsmi is yet to comment on the allegations, but a senior officer said the charges are being probed.

Jeeva, a law graduate, was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her bedroom Friday. Her 11-page death note said she was humiliated during police investigation. The incident came to light when Sangeeta alerted a friend when Jeeva wasn't responding to phone calls. The friend visited the house and peeped through the window to find Jeeva hanging.

Jeeva would supply wood materials to Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation. The scam, unearthed in Nov 2023, is being probed by CID. Prima facie, there has been a misuse of Rs 97 crore, which has been transferred into the accounts of over 500 fake beneficiaries.