Sowjanya case: Complaint filed against CM D K Shivakumar in Supreme Court

Complainant seeks action over CM’s reported meeting with SIT chief, demands details of briefing on investigation

Bengaluru

A social activist campaigning for justice in the 2012 rape and murder of 17-year-old Soujanya has filed a complaint before the Supreme Court against Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, alleging that his reported meeting with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief could compromise the independence of the probe ordered by the apex court.

In her complaint addressed to the Registrar (Judicial) of the Supreme Court, N Rama Nagraja N, a Chitradurga-based social worker, has sought the intervention of Chief Justice of India, raising concerns over Shivakumar’s reported meeting with SIT head and Inspector General of Police N Shashikumar at the Chief Minister’s Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru on October 28.

The complainant alleged that the SIT chief had carried the case diary to the meeting and briefed the Chief Minister on the progress of the investigation and steps taken so far. She cited a TV9 Kannada report in support of her claim and sought clarification on whether any investigative documents were handed over during the meeting.

The complaint comes barely a month after the Supreme Court, on September 21, ordered a fresh investigation into Soujanya’s rape and murder, directing the Karnataka government to constitute an SIT comprising officers who were not involved in the earlier investigations.

Questioning the timing of the meeting, the complainant pointed out that the SIT had reportedly issued notices to police officers involved in the original investigation and post-mortem staff, directing them to appear before the team on October 30.

She argued that the Chief Minister’s reported interaction with the SIT chief, two days before the earlier investigators were scheduled to appear, raised concerns about the independence of the investigation.

“The officers of the SIT now know that the Chief Minister is watching what they find. That alone is enough to bend an investigation, without any order being given,” the complainant alleged.

She, however, clarified that she did not blame the SIT chief for attending the meeting, arguing that the responsibility lay with the decision to summon him.

Seeks affidavit from State, SIT chief

The complainant has requested the Supreme Court to seek affidavits from the Karnataka government and the SIT chief explaining what transpired during the October 28 meeting, who initiated it and whether any report or document relating to the investigation was shared with the Chief Minister or his office.

She has also sought a direction restraining the SIT from briefing or furnishing information about the investigation to the Chief Minister, ministers or other political executive functionaries.

Further, she has requested that the SIT submit status reports directly to the court in sealed covers until the police report is filed and that witness protection arrangements be reviewed.

The complaint refers to the Supreme Court’s September 21 judgment, which ordered a de novo investigation after expressing serious concerns about the manner in which the case had been investigated by the Belthangady police, the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court had observed that the possibility of the real culprits manipulating the investigation could not be ruled out and directed the constitution of a fresh SIT, giving it three months to complete the investigation.

The complainant also highlighted the identification of eight potential witnesses following the Supreme Court’s April 29, 2026, order directing the State to provide them protection.

She has sought a review of the protection arrangements for these witnesses and any additional witnesses identified during the investigation.

Refers to CBI case against CM

The complaint also refers to a CBI case registered against Shivakumar in 2020 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging that he possessed assets worth Rs 74.93 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income.

It states that the Karnataka government withdrew its consent for the CBI investigation in November 2023 and transferred the matter to the Lokayukta. The CBI’s challenge to the withdrawal of consent is pending before the Supreme Court, according to the complaint.

Citing these circumstances, the complainant argued that the Chief Minister’s reported meeting with the SIT chief created an impression that the investigation could be vulnerable to political influence.

The complaint seeks appropriate orders from the Supreme Court and states that more than 1,000 Soujanya activists intend to assemble peacefully outside the court premises to demand action over the alleged interference.