The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a petition seeking transfer of the probe into criminal cases related to the alleged suicide of advocate, Darani S., to the CBI or seeking a special investigation team (SIT) to be headed by a senior police officer of non-Karnataka cadre.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the order on a PIL petition filed by the Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru. Dharani committed suicide on December 31, 2018 at her home in Mahadevapura police limits in Bengaluru city.
The association has alleged that the 25-year-old advocate committed suicide as she was unable to bear the frequent harassment caused by some persons, including a councillor of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in connection with a dispute over a property. Claiming that the accused BBMP councillor is close to a top police officer of the State, besides having close nexus with a legislator belonging to one of ruling parties, the petitioner contended that fair investigation can be held either by the CBI or an SIT comprising non-Karnataka police personnel.