Bansal case: SC notice to Centre, CBI on plea for SIT probe

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking SIT probe into the harassment and consequent suicide by late Corporate Affairs Ministry officer BK Bansal, who was being investigated in an alleged corruption case.

The court also issued notice to CBI over the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former union Power Secretary E.A.S. Sarma.

Bansal, along with his 31-year-old son, committed suicide in September-end alleging harassment by the CBI team probing the alleged corruption case against him.

The apex court bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice Arun Mishra issued the notice as senior counsel Colin Gonsalves appearing for Sarma told the court that the same team of the CBI was continuing with the probe.

The PIL petitioner, a former bureaucrat, has urged the court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegation of harassment by the CBI team investigating the corruption case -- that led to the suicide by Bansal and his entire family including wife, daughter and son -- should comprise officers of "impeccable integrity and independence".

Bansal had named several persons for making "my family life hell", including Deputy Inspector General Sanjeev Gautam, Superintendent of Police Amrita Kaur, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rekha Sangwan and Investigating Officer Harnam Singh, apart from an unnamed head constable.

Bansal, 60, was arrested on July 16 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 9 lakh from a prominent pharmaceutical company. Days later, his wife Satyabala and daughter Neha ended their lives.

On September 27, Bansal allegedly hanged himself, along with his son Yogesh, at their residence, leaving behind a suicide note that alleged harassment by the CBI.