Double suicide: CBI starts probe on torture claims

The CBI on Wednesday initiated an internal inquiry to probe allegations of torture by former director general corporate affairs B.K. Bansal, who committed suicide along with his 28-year-old son on Tuesday.

In the suicide note, purportedly written by the former corporate affairs director general, Bansal alleged that a CBI DIG, two women officers and a “fat” havaldar of the agency had tortured his wife and daughter following which both had committed suicide in July. Delhi Police is examining two suicide notes, a seven-page note allegedly written by Bansal and a two-page note written by his son Yogesh, dated September 26, 2016, a day before their bodies were discovered in their flat here.

He alleged that the DIG claimed that he was close to a politician of the ruling party and dared Bansal to do whatever he wanted. The suicide note also mentions that the female officers slapped his wife while the DIG abused her over the phone and threatened to torture Bansal who was then in CBI custody.

“Even if I was at fault in the case, why were my wife and daughter pushed to suicide by CBI officials This cannot be termed as suicide. It is a murder of two ladies,” he allegedly wrote, adding that the DIG and the “fat” havaldar should be subjected to a lie-detector test to know the truth.

Bansal also urged the CBI director to probe the matter as the DIG had threatened him before the suicide of his wife and daughter that “they will be subjected to such a torture that they will ask for death but won’t get it”. In the note Bansal has appreciated his case’s investigating officer, saying he always assured him that no harm would come to him.

His son Yogesh in his purported suicide note has identified one more officer in addition to the four named by his father. Yogesh alleged that he was “unofficially” subjected to “mental and physical” torture to the extent that he was forced to take the extreme step of ending his life.

He alleged that the five CBI officers, including the DIG, had “unofficially and off the record tortured him, his mother and his sister. My mother and my sister were against suicide but they were tortured to such an extent that they took the step”. He also alleged that they were “murdered” by CBI officers and a neighbour who made fun of their situation.

In the note signed by Bansal, it is alleged that his wife and daughter had shared the details of “torture” with friends and neighbours before taking the extreme step.

Talking to reporters, CBI spokesperson R.K. Gaur said the agency has received a communication from Delhi Police in which the suicide notes have been attached. He said an inquiry has been ordered to look into the allegations and the court will be informed. “If any violation is established during the probe, strict action will be taken against the CBI officials concerned”, he said.

Barely two months after his wife and daughter ended their lives following his arrest in a corruption case, Bansal was found hanging, along with his son, at their residence. Suicide notes claiming “harassment” by the CBI were recovered.

Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the ministry of corporate affairs, was arrested by the CBI on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe from a prominent pharmaceutical company.