# 'I Paid...': Grieving Bengaluru Ex-CFO Exposes 'Bribe at Every Step' Ordeal After Daughter's Tragic Death at 34
October 30, 2025**
In the shadow of unimaginable grief, one man's raw account of bureaucratic extortion has ignited a firestorm across India. Sivakumar K, a retired Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), lost his only daughter, a 34-year-old software engineer, to a sudden illness earlier this month. What should have been a time for mourning turned into a nightmare of relentless bribe demands—from the ambulance ride to the crematorium gates. In a now-deleted LinkedIn post that exploded online, Sivakumar laid bare the "systemic corruption" he faced, declaring: "I had money, I paid. What will the poor do?" His words, laced with despair, have prompted suspensions, probes, and a national reckoning on how even the privileged get squeezed in Bengaluru's underbelly. This isn't just a father's lament—it's a mirror to India's graft-riddled grief machinery.
## A Daughter's Sudden Departure: The Spark of a Scandal
Sivakumar's world shattered when his daughter—his sole child and a rising star in tech—passed away abruptly at 34. Details of her illness remain private, but the aftermath thrust him into Bengaluru's labyrinth of red tape. What followed was a 10-day odyssey of harassment, where officials allegedly turned tragedy into a transaction. His post, shared on October 28, detailed the "bribes demanded at every step," from hospital corridors to municipal offices, totaling over ₹20,000 in "unofficial fees." Though he deleted it amid the backlash, screenshots spread like wildfire, amassing millions of views and shares.
Sivakumar, a veteran PSU executive with decades in finance, isn't a stranger to systems—but this broke him. "Recently, my only child passed away at age 34," he wrote. "In the process of managing the aftermath, I had to pay bribes at almost every step." His plea cut deep: In a city of 13 million dreams, why must loss come with a price tag?
## The Bribe Trail: A Grim Ledger of Grief
Sivakumar's account paints a harrowing picture of institutionalized shakedown, where empathy yields to extortion. From the moment death knocked, the demands began—escalating as he navigated police stations, hospitals, and civic bodies. Here's the breakdown he shared:
| Stage | Official Demand | Amount Paid (₹) | Sivakumar's Note |
|------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|
| Ambulance Ride | Driver for "oxygen supply" | 3,000 | "Even in emergency, haggling." |
| Police FIR Registration | Constable for "processing" | 500 | "Basic report, but no shortcuts." |
| Post-Mortem Report | Hospital staff for "expedite" | 10,000 | "Delayed without this." |
| Death Certificate (BBMP) | Official for "verification" | 5,000 | "5 days of visits, still waited." |
| Crematorium Slot | Attendant for "priority" | 2,000 | "Electric crematorium queue." |
| **Total** | | **20,500** | "I paid... What will poor do?" |
These weren't isolated asks, he alleged—they were the norm. At the BBMP office, he endured five daily treks, only to be stonewalled without grease money. Police at the station? Equally unyielding. Even the crematorium, meant for solace, became a toll booth. Sivakumar's post wasn't vengeful; it was exhausted—a high-achiever humbled by a system that preys on vulnerability.
## Outrage Ignites: Suspensions, Probes, and a CM's Vow
The post hit like a thunderclap. Within hours, it trended on LinkedIn and spilled onto X, drawing fury from netizens, activists, and celebs. Bengaluru Police swung into action: Two constables at the jurisdictional station were suspended pending inquiry, with DCP Lokesh B. Jagalur promising a "zero-tolerance" probe. BBMP Commissioner Inchenh Ravi Kumar ordered an internal audit, vowing to "root out such malpractices."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah weighed in sharply: "Such behavior is unacceptable. Strict action will be taken against those exploiting citizens in distress." Opposition voices, including BJP's Tejasvi Surya, piled on, calling it "a stain on Bengaluru's soul" and demanding a statewide crackdown. As of today, a special team is investigating, with potential for FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
## X Erupts: From Heartbreak to Hashtag Justice
Social media amplified the agony into activism. #EndBribeInBengaluru and #JusticeForSivakumar trended with over 50K mentions in 24 hours. Users shared their own horror stories: One @BengaluruVoice recounted bribing for a relative's funeral permit; another @TechieInBlr fumed, "Even death isn't free in this city?" Viral clips from YouTube breakdowns racked up views, with titles like "Bribe Demanded at Every Step: Father Exposes Corruption After Daughter's Death."
Posts like @passion_patel's link-share ("'I paid...': Bengaluru ex-CFO’s daughter dies at 34...") sparked threads of solidarity, while @thetribunechd's repost fueled national discourse. The mood? A mix of sorrow and seething— "If a CFO pays, imagine the aam aadmi," one user lamented.
## A Deeper Wound: Corruption's Toll on the Broken-Hearted
Sivakumar's story isn't outlier—it's emblematic. India ranks 93rd on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, with petty graft costing citizens ₹60,000 crore yearly. In death rituals alone, experts estimate billions in unofficial "facilitation fees." For the affluent like Sivakumar, it's an insult; for the poor, a barrier to dignity. His question—"What will the poor do?"—echoes a systemic failure, where digital India stalls at the human interface.
This could catalyze change: Apps for bribe-free certificates? AI-monitored helplines? But without political will, it's lip service. Sivakumar, now in seclusion, has inspired a chorus: Grief should heal, not hemorrhage.
What reforms would you demand to end this? Share below—let's amplify the call.
*Sources: Economic Times, Indian Express, New Indian Express, Moneycontrol, India Today, and X reactions. For updates, follow the probes.*
“Recently, my only child passed away at age 34. The amount of open bribe being asked by ambulance, police for FIR and post-mortem report, crematorium for receipts, and BBMP office for death certificate,” he wrote.
He revealed that police officers openly demanded cash for providing the FIR and post-mortem report, forcing him to pay money inside the station.
“There was no empathy for a father who had just lost his only child. I had money, so I paid. What will the poor do?” he added.
The retired officer said the ambulance driver demanded Rs 3,000 to take his daughter’s body from Kasavanahalli to St. John’s Hospital in Koramangala. He also described how even basic formalities at the BBMP office became a nightmare — he had to visit the office for five days to obtain a death certificate, only to be told repeatedly that staff were unavailable because of a “caste survey.” The certificate was finally issued after he contacted a senior official — but only after paying more than the official fee.
