The Advocates Association in Bengaluru has petitioned the Karnataka High Court for a CBI investigation into the suicide of a woman lawyer, who alleged police torture in her death note. Justice M Nagaprasanna ordered the State to respond by November 27. After facing police interrogation, the victim died on November 22, prompting further scrutiny of the police’s actions.
Karnataka: The Advocates Association, Bengaluru, has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the suicide of a woman lawyer following allegations of police torture. The petition was heard by Justice M Nagaprasanna, who directed the State to respond to the demand for a CBI investigation by November 27.
The High Court took note of the deceased lawyer’s 13-page death note, which detailed alleged torture by the Investigating Officer (IO). According to the note, the victim was physically assaulted, stripped, and tortured by the police.
The victim was the eighth accused in a Rs 196 crore scam involving the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation, charged under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC for criminal breach of trust and cheating. On November 13, she filed an affidavit alleging police torture. In response, the High Court ordered videographed interrogations and restrained the police from filing a chargesheet without its permission.
Despite these measures, the victim died by suicide on November 22 after another round of interrogation. The IO has since been booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abetment of suicide.
Senior Advocate Vivek Subba Reddy, representing the Advocates Association, argued that the torture escalated after the victim’s affidavit, stating, “This torture was a repercussion of her affidavit… Using police powers to degrade the victim.” He urged the Court to involve a central agency, as the police would protect their own.
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However, Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dalwai, appearing for the IO, denied the allegations of stripping and torture, suggesting instead that the police probe could be monitored by the Court. Dalwai emphasized that the victim continued to cooperate with the investigation after her affidavit.
The High Court highlighted the gravity of the allegations, remarking,
“If one reads the death note, it is horrible… It needs an investigation.”
The Court has asked the State to file objections to the demand for a CBI probe, with an order expected on November 27.
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