The city police on Thursday suspended two officials after a retired Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) chief financial officer (CFO) shared a distressing account on LinkedIn about being forced to pay bribes to multiple people — from ambulance drivers to civic staff — following the death of his 34-year-old daughter.

The post, written by Sivakumar K, a former BPCL CFO, had gone viral earlier this week before being deleted. In it, Sivakumar described his heartbreaking experience of systemic corruption in Bengaluru during one of the most painful moments of his life — the loss of his daughter, Akshaya Sivakumar, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, who passed away in September.

Painful ordeal shared online

In his LinkedIn post, Sivakumar wrote that he was sharing his experience “so that others don’t have to go through the same trauma.” He detailed how he had to bribe ambulance drivers, policemen, crematorium staff and officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to complete formalities related to his daughter’s funeral.

The post sparked widespread outrage online, with thousands expressing sympathy for Sivakumar’s loss and anger over the persistence of corruption in public services, even during times of grief. Many users tagged senior government officials and demanded immediate action.

Police initiate action

Responding to the public outcry, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office ordered an inquiry, which led to the suspension of two police officials allegedly involved in the case. The department said it has taken the issue “very seriously” and assured that further investigation is underway to identify other individuals who may have been part of the extortion.

A senior police officer told reporters that disciplinary action would follow based on the findings of the internal inquiry. “We express deep regret for the insensitivity shown and assure citizens that such behaviour will not be tolerated,” the officer said.

Public response and official reaction

The BBMP also announced that it would conduct its own probe into corruption within crematoriums and among ground-level civic workers. Karnataka’s Home Department officials acknowledged that Sivakumar’s account highlighted “the need for deeper systemic reform” in the city’s handling of death-related services.

Meanwhile, social media continues to discuss the post, with many noting that Sivakumar’s decision to speak out publicly has reignited debate over ethical conduct and transparency among public service providers.

Background

Sivakumar’s daughter, Akshaya, was remembered by family and friends as a bright, compassionate individual and a successful IIM Ahmedabad alumnus. Her sudden death left the family devastated, and the ordeal that followed added to their trauma.

The episode has once again put the spotlight on bribery and corruption in Bengaluru’s civic and police systems, prompting authorities to promise stronger accountability measures and easier access to citizen grievance mechanisms.