The Karnataka High Court has declined the Bengaluru Advocates Association’s plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the tragic suicide of a woman lawyer, who reportedly suffered from police torture. Instead, Justice M. Nagaprasanna has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of three senior IPS officers to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
The incident has drawn significant attention due to the severe accusations made by the deceased in her 13-page suicide note, which detailed the physical assault and torture she endured at the hands of Deputy SP Kanaka Lakshmi B.M., the Investigating Officer (IO) in her case. The IO, who sought to have the FIR against her quashed, now faces charges of abetting suicide following the court’s rejection of her petition.
The legal controversy began when the deceased lawyer, previously implicated in a scam involving the embezzlement of Rs 196 crore from the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation, alleged brutal treatment under the IO’s custody. She accused the officer of physical and psychological torment, which she detailed extensively in the suicide note left behind. Her charges included accusations of being stripped and beaten, actions that have led to the current judicial scrutiny.
Justice Nagaprasanna’s directives are part of a broader call for accountability and transparency within the police force. He has mandated that all future interrogations involving the deceased be recorded on video and has prohibited the filing of any chargesheet without explicit court approval.
The court’s decision to form an SIT rather than transferring the case to the CBI reflects a determination to handle the matter within state mechanisms, ensuring a thorough investigation by experienced officers. This case represents a critical intersection of legal proceedings and human rights advocacy, spotlighting the pressing issue of police conduct in sensitive situations.
