Humiliated by CBI raids, wife, daughter of corrupt babu commit suicide at home

Duo mentioned in suicide note that they felt humiliated because of the agency’s raids at their home after BK Bansal’s arrest; CBI denies charges

New Delhi: The suicide of the wife and daughter of Director General of Corporate Affairs BK Bansal, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) three days ago in a bribery case, has cast a shadow on the premiere investigating agency since the deceased said they felt humiliated by CBI’s raids.

Satyabala Bansal

Bansal’s wife Satyabala (58) and daughter Neha (27) were found hanging from ceiling fans in separate rooms of their 3-BHK flat in Neelkanth Apartment at IP Extension in east Delhi last afternoon. They wrote in their suicide notes that they felt humiliated by the CBI raids but said that “no one should be held responsible” for their deaths.

CBI denies charges
While graft charges against Bansal are being probed, the unfortunate turn of events at his household has raised doubt over CBI’s harassment of family members. However, CBI has denied any such charges. It said in a statement, “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the incident. Both the deceased were neither accused nor questioned or summoned in the ongoing investigation. The matter is being looked into by the local police.”

According to Delhi Police, the incident took place between 12.30 pm and 1.50 pm and they received the call. “Two maids — Rachna and Arti — had come to work at 12:30 pm. The mother-daughter duo had told them not to disturb them and they entered two separate rooms. When the maids completed their work, before leaving the flat, they knocked the door of Satyabala’s room, but did not get any response. When they pushed the door open, they found her hanging in the room.
“When they tried to inform the daughter, her room was locked from inside and there was no response. They then informed the security guards deployed at the apartment. The neighbours and security guards informed the police,” said Rishi Pal, DCP, East district.

The raids
According to neighbours, the CBI conducted raid at the Bansal home on July 17 and 18. “On both the days, 15 CBI officials had entered their house at 3 pm and searched till 5 am,” said one of the neighbours.

Sources said the family had arranged Neha’s marriage two months ago. It is possible that after the incident, her marriage may have been called off. Neighbours say the family largely kept to themselves and rarely spoke to anybody.

Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs was caught red-handed taking a bribe of R9 lakh by a middleman on behalf of Mumbai-based company Elder Pharmaceutical. He had had reportedly demanded R20 lakh to spare the company for its alleged violations. He was remanded in three more days of custody.

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