The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the suicides of former bureaucrat BK Bansal and his son, Yogesh. The NHRC has sought a reply on the allegations of wrongdoing against certain officials named in the two suicide notes written by the men before they killed themselves. The commission has asked for a reply within 72 hours.

The Commission said it had sought the full text of the notes and the names of officials accused by the former bureaucrat and his son of having tortured their family. It observed that investigations by agencies had to be carried out in a “human rights friendly” way. “They cannot be allowed to resort to physical torture of an alleged offender or his family members,” a statement released by it added.

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Separately, the Delhi Commission for Women also issued a notice to the Bureau, seeking details about its investigation into the allegations, PTI reported.

Bansal was the director general of corporate affairs before he was arrested for taking a bribe of Rs 9 lakh from a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firm. In his suicide note, he alleged that a Deputy Inspector-General of the CBI along with two women officers and a constable tortured his wife and daughter after which they committed suicide in July. The former bureaucrat said the DIG also claimed to be close to a politician from a ruling party. In his note, Bansal's son Yogesh accused another CBI officer of “mentally and physically” torturing him, and said that led to his suicide.

The Bureau said it had received the notes from the Delhi Police, and that it decided to investigate the allegations after examining them. The agency said strict action would be taken against any officer found guilty of any violation. Relevant courts would also be informed about the matter, it said.