Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, March 12: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the suicide case of advocate S Jeeva, who was an accused in the Bhovi Development Corporation scam, has arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) B M Kanakalakshmi on charges of abetment to suicide and corruption.
DySP Kanakalakshmi was taken into custody after appearing before the investigation officers in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning. The SIT had previously recorded her statement twice before confirming her arrest.
Jeeva, a 33-year-old businesswoman from Bengaluru who ran a wood material shop, ended her life on November 22, 2024, leaving behind an 11-page death note.
In the note, she alleged that DySP Kanakalakshmi had subjected her to severe harassment, including third-degree treatment while in custody, stripping her naked, and demanding a Rs 25 lac bribe to spare her from further investigation.
The deceased woman's family also accused CID officials of harassing her at her shop and humiliating her in front of her
staff. Jeeva died by suicide within seven days of being interrogated by the CID, despite a Karnataka High Court order permitting her to be questioned online.
Following the family's demand for action, Jeeva’s younger sister, S Sangeeta, lodged a complaint at Banashankari police
station in Bengaluru against DySP Kanakalakshmi. The Advocates' Association also moved the Karnataka High Court, urging strict action against the officer.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the High Court constituted a three-member SIT, comprising two IAS officers and a
CBI official, to conduct a detailed probe into the case.
The Bhovi Development Corporation Scam, which came to light in 2022 during the BJP government's tenure, involved the
misappropriation of Rs 34 crore meant for the welfare of the community. Of this, Rs 7.16 crore was allegedly transferred to Annika Enterprises, a company owned by Jeeva, while the remaining amount was funneled into firms linked to close
associates of former managing directors of the Corporation.
Investigations revealed that middlemen, in collusion with Bhovi Corporation officials, obtained government documents from beneficiaries under the pretext of providing loans of up to Rs 10 lac. Instead, they used these documents to take loans in the names of unsuspecting individuals. The scam surfaced when banks started demanding repayments from the
victims.
With multiple bank accounts identified as recipients of the embezzled funds, the SIT is intensifying its probe to track the money trail and bring those involved to justice.