Karnataka police probing suicide case use forensic psychological autopsy for first time in state
Bengaluru: A new technique, forensic psychological autopsy (FPA), used for the investigation of a suicide case, is being introduced in Karnataka to understand the mental state of a deceased person prior to his/her death.
Mumbai police had used this technique during the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case, and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team employed FPA in the 2018 Burari deaths in Delhi, reports Deccan Herald.
Karnataka High Court has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a case of abetment to suicide involving a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer and the assistance of officials from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has been sought to perform the FPA.
A 33-year-old entrepreneur in Bengaluru, Jeeva S, allegedly committed suicide at home in Padmanabhanagar on November 22, 2024. She had left an 11-page death note, accusing a Deputy Superintendent of Police, BM Kanaka Lakshmi, of ‘harassing and torturing’ her, as Jeeva had been summoned for questioning in a case related to irregularities at the Bhovi Corporation.
An officer in the investigation team said that the FPA would help them understand if the style and process of investigation had led Jeeva to take the extreme step. The team members had spoken to Jeeva’s friends, reviewed interrogation videos, analyzed her suicide note, examined call details and the CCTV camera footage showing Jeeva entering and leaving the interrogation location.
An examination of the video on the interrogation helped the team assess Jeeva’s facial expressions, intonations and responses. There was also a study of the suicide victim’s dress, hair style and physical state on each round of police interrogation, the officer said. A comparison of these records and observations was made, with the team finding that Jeeva expressed stress and lesser interest in herself.
A review of Jeeva’s reactions to the questions of the investigating officer was also conducted to check for any signs of fear or weariness.
The police officers are learned to have spoken to Jeeva’s friends regarding her social behavior and change in interactions after she started attending the interrogations. Further, her phone calls were inspected, with the team finding the analysis to be indicative in nature. The officer has said that Jeeva’s initial firmness and defiance towards interrogation along and call of interrogators gradually turned into a response that indicated fear.
The outcome of the study has been added to the chargesheet, which will be submitted in a few days, said the officer, adding that the police have also been granted sanction for prosecution in the case.
The officer, however, stated that, while the outcome would serve as circumstantial evidence to support police investigation, the results are not conclusive.
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RCB pip CSK by two runs in last-ball IPL thriller
Bengaluru: Ayush Mhatre's 94 and Ravindra Jadeja's 77 not out went in vain as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pipped Chennai Super Kings by two runs in their IPL match here on Saturday.
Chasing 214, CSK scored 211 for 5 in their 20 overs.
Mhatre scored a 48-ball 94 with five sixes and nine fours while adding 114 runs with Jadeja (77 not out off 45 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s) for the second wicket.
For RCB, Lungi Ngidi returned with figures of 3/30.
Earlier, half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55), Virat Kohli (62) and Romario Shepherd (53 not out) took RCB to 213 for five.
While Bethell and Kohli put on 97 runs for the opening wicket to set a platform, Shepherd blasted four fours and six sixes to make 53 not out off only 14 balls, recording the fastest fifty of the season and joint second-fastest overall.
For CSK, Matheesha Pathirana found his rhythm and lengths to return 3-0-36-3.
Brief scores:
RCB: 213 for 5 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 55, Virat Kohli 62, Romario Shepherd 53 not out; Matheesha Pathirana 3/36).
CSK: 211 for 5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 94, Ravindra Jadeja 77 not out; Lungi Ngidi 3/30).
