CBI, Delhi Police again get DCW summons

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Thursday again issued summons to the CBI and Delhi Police in the suicides of senior bureaucrat B K Bansal and his family and expressed shock on why an FIR had not been filed in the case so far.

Rejecting the CBI’s appeal for exemption of its senior officers from personal appearance, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal said in a tweet: “DCW is powerful. Can issue arrest warrants and attach salary if information is denied. Will ensure justice to wife and gold medalist daughter of Bansal.” 

The Commission also summoned DCP of East Delhi to explain why the FIR was not registered in this case. 

She added: “If CBI and Delhi Police will not provide complete information to DCW, the Commission will initiate civil court proceedings against them which will include issuing arrest warrants and attachment of salary of the officers summoned. An FIR under Section 176 IPC can also be registered against the officers for denial of information to the Commission.” 

She further added that it was shocking that no FIR was registered in both the agencies refusing information to DCW also.  The Commissioner has asked Assistant Director General (AIG) level officer of CBI and DCP of East Delhi to be present before it on November 2 with the required documents.

“DCP East has been asked to provide photocopies of the suicide notes recovered from the wife and daughter of Bansal. He has also been asked to explain the reason for not registering the FIR in the case,” she added. This is the second summon to the senior officers of both Delhi Police and the CBI.

In response to the summons issued by DCW earlier, the inspector rank officers of both the CBI and Delhi police appeared before the Commission on October 25.  

“CBI requested the commission to grant it exemption from appearance for it has sought clarification from the Central government as to whether it can be summoned by the Commission. DCW has informed the CBI that a plain reading of Section 10 of the DCW Act clarifies that the Commission has powers to take suo moto cognizance in cases concerning welfare of women and girls in Delhi,” said the Commission in its order. It further added that since B K Bansal’s wife and daughter belonged to Delhi, the DCW has complete jurisdiction in the case.

B K Bansal, who was Director General rank officer in Corporate Affairs Department of the Central government, was arrested by the CBI on charges of accepting bribe. While he was in CBI custody, his wife Satyabala (58) and daughter Neha (28) committed suicide on July 19 in his Neelkanth Apartment in East Delhi. Later on, Bansal and his son also committed suicide on September 27 alleging harassment by CBI officers.