The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police Kanakalakshmi in connection with the suicide of a 33-year-old woman lawyer, official sources said. The case has been under intense scrutiny, prompting the SIT to take swift action. Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to her death. Further details are awaited as the probe continues.
A senior police officer, Kanakalakshmi, was booked after lawyer Jeeva S accused her of stripping and torturing her during an interrogation related to the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation scam.
Jeeva also alleged that Deputy SP Kanakalakshmi demanded a bribe of Rs.25 lakh.
On November 22, 2024, a case was registered at the Banashankari police station based on Jeeva’s suicide note. In response to the FIR, Police Commissioner B. Dayananda ordered a Central Crime Branch inquiry into the allegations against Kanakalakshmi.
Also Read: Patna Lawyer Rupesh Kumar Dies by Suicide Due to Mental Stress
Jeeva’s sister, Sangeetha S, claimed that her sister was stripped to check for cyanide and subjected to torture in an attempt to extort the bribe.
The deceased lawyer was found dead under suspicious circumstances last week, and a suicide note allegedly pointed to harassment by senior police officials. According to her family and colleagues, she had been vocal about police misconduct and had reportedly faced undue pressure from law enforcement authorities. Her death created protests from the legal community, demanding justice and accountability.
Reports suggest that the lawyer had been handling sensitive cases and had filed complaints regarding police excesses. In her last messages, she allegedly mentioned being threatened and intimidated. Following widespread demands for an impartial investigation, the SIT was formed to look into the circumstances leading to her death.
Authorities have invoked Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to abetment of suicide. This section states that if any person instigates or aids another in committing suicide, they shall be punished with imprisonment of up to ten years, along with a fine. In this case, DSP Kanakalakshmi’s role is under scrutiny to determine whether her actions contributed to the lawyer’s decision to take her own life.
Additionally, if evidence of harassment or criminal intimidation emerges, provisions under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the IPC could also be applied. The SIT is examining all aspects, including digital evidence, call records, and statements from witnesses, to establish the sequence of events.