A 33-year-old entrepreneur allegedly committed suicide, leaving behind an 11-page note accusing a criminal investigation department (CID) official of relentless “mental harassment” and even “forcing her to strip down” amid the agency’s ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation, according to police.
According to Banashankari police inspector P Kotresh, the deceased, a Padmanabhanagar resident, committed suicide alone while her younger sister was gone in Mangaluru for work.
“Concerned after failing to reach her sister by phone early on Friday morning, the younger sister asked a friend to check on her. When the friend arrived, he noticed something was wrong and called the neighbours and police.
He added that after breaking into the residence, they discovered her body.
The anomalies in the Bhovi Development Corporation, discovered in 2021-22, including the suspected misuse of monies intended for loans to the Bhovi community via a government job scheme. Earlier this year, the CID received multiple instances from Siddapura, Doddaballapur, and Kalagi for inquiry. The deceased was the owner of a wood furniture supply business. The 33-year-old entrepreneur was accused of submitting an inflated cost for corporation-ordered supplies.
According to the Banashankari inspector, the entrepreneur left an 11-page suicide note in which she recounted the enormous psychological strain caused by CID officials’ persistent questioning. Source was unable to verify the authenticity of the supposed note.
Citing the supposed note, the officer claimed that the mental toll of the inquiry pushed her to take such drastic measures. “Following the death of the 33-year-old, his sister filed a formal complaint against CID deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Kanakalakshmi on Friday, accusing her of aiding suicide. Banashankari police have filed a case under BNS section 308(6) (extortion),” Kotresh said, adding that an investigation into the incident has begun.
The complaint said that despite a court order requiring that the investigation be conducted via video conferencing from November 14 to 23, the DSP required the deceased to appear in person on November 14.
“During the questioning, the officer allegedly subjected her to severe humiliation, including forcing her to strip down to her undergarments,” she stated.
The complaint also accused the officer of making disparaging remarks, like, “Did you bring cyanide? Why are you and your sister still alive? “How are you making money?” It also claimed that even after the deceased produced all necessary paperwork, the officer discarded them, saying, “I don’t want these. Give me ₹25 lakh. Otherwise, why would you all live? “Go, die.”
“The complaint highlights how the ongoing investigation into the Bhovi Development Corporation case allegedly led to an environment of fear and distress for the deceased,” according to the officer.
