Conversations revealed a pattern in which ordinary residents—caught in vulnerable moments—feel compelled to pay extra, rely on middlemen, or follow unofficial procedures to complete basic formalities.
Published Oct 31, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 31, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Sivakumar’s now-deleted post angry reactions on social media.
Synopsis: A recent social media post by a grieving father in Bengaluru, describing alleged bribery and apathy by the city’s civic and police officials, triggered widespread outrage and prompted many users to share similar experiences online. On Thursday, South First visited a municipal corporation office to understand the bureaucratic process of obtaining a death certificate. The visit revealed delays, limited availability of officials, and unofficial offers of assistance through intermediaries.
A LinkedIn post by a grieving father recently sparked anger against Bengaluru’s civic authorities and police after he described his distressing experience of alleged bribery and insensitivity following the death of his daughter.
Sivakumar K, identified in his now-deleted post as the former Chief Financial Officer of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, wrote that his only child, Akshaya Sivakumar, 34, died on 18 September from a brain haemorrhage at her home in Kasavanahalli.
Akshaya, an alumna of IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad, had reportedly worked at Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru.
In his post, Sivakumar alleged a chain of exploitation involving ambulance staff, police personnel, crematorium workers, and officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
On the afternoon of Thursday, 30 October, South First decided to go through the procedure of obtaining a death certificate from the municipal body to understand what it would entail.
When asked about obtaining a death certificate at the corporation office on 3rd Cross, Bellandur, South First was told that almost all officials were away on Social Educational Survey work, scheduled to conclude on Friday, 31 October.
After a few minutes, a man standing at the entrance enquired about the purpose of the visit, followed by a series of questions: “For whom?”, “Which hospital?”, and “Which area?” Nothing in his attire suggested that he held any official position.
He then suggested that, for urgent cases, applicants should visit the Mahadevapura Zone office and meet a government official named Saleem. He provided the official’s phone number but cautioned that he would not answer calls. He then called the official himself, who said that, like in Bellandur, he too was occupied with survey duties.
When pressed for alternatives, the man went inside the office and returned after a few minutes. He then explained the process clearly. The official fee, he said, was ₹200, with delivery expected only by 10 November, as the application would have to be sent to the Mahadevapura office anyway.
However, for those seeking the certificate sooner, he suggested a quicker route involving an official at the Mahadevapura office. By paying ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 to that official, he said, the certificate could be issued within three days.
Further conversations revealed a pattern in which ordinary residents—caught in vulnerable moments—feel compelled to pay extra, rely on middlemen, or follow unofficial procedures to complete basic formalities.
One individual, also present at the Bellandur office, claimed to have paid ₹2,000 to an ambulance driver to shift a relative to a city government hospital – a fee that, he said, increased with distance. “At that moment, there is no option but to pay them,” he said.
Another woman, a resident of Mahadevapura and originally from Maharashtra, described her ordeal following her father’s death in September. She said cemetery personnel on Hosur Road demanded ₹9,000 in cash for an immediate burial, without providing a receipt.
Later, when she returned to obtain an official burial certificate, she was reportedly told it would cost another ₹1,000 due to a “delay.”
She was then directed to the main corporation office and informed that she would need to file an affidavit and contact a specific person to resolve the matter.
Sivakumar’s now-deleted post has not been independently verified by South First.
However, it triggered angry reactions on social media, with several people recounting similar experiences. Some users demanded that the process of applying for and issuing birth and death certificates be moved entirely online.
When contacted by South First, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) K Parashurama confirmed that disciplinary action had been taken.
“We have suspended a PSI and a constable in Bellandur Police Station. Santosh is the PSI and Gorakanath is the constable,” he said.
He added that a detailed inquiry had been ordered into the handling of the case and the conduct of the officials concerned.
