Karnataka government has handed over to CID the investigation into the alleged suicide of Mangaluru DySP M K Ganapathy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said today as he warned of action against seniors accused of harassing the police official.
"We have handed over this case to the CID. After the CID submits its investigation report, we will take appropriate action," he reporters here, as the incident put his government in a spot.
In the second such suicide case involving a senior police official within a week, Ganapthy was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri where he had gone from Mangaluru yesterday.
On July 5, the body of DySP of Chikkamagaluru sub-division Kallappa Handibag (35), accused of kidnapping a person for ransom, was found hanging in his father-in-law's home at Murgod in Belagavi district.
In an interview given to a local news channel in Madikeri, the DySP had mentioned names of two higher police officials and Minister for Bengaluru Development K J George, a former Home Minister, accusing them of harassing him.
"I am disappointed with transfers happening in police department, which is done on caste consideration.Top officials should not do this. It's not good. It is wrong. Therefore, I am coming out openly before the media," he hadsaid.
Ganapathy had also said, "If anything happens to me hereafter, they are responsible. Who? (police officials) A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty, and also former Home Minister George. They (police officials) are close to Chief Minister and Home Minister, who give information to them."
As his government came under Opposition attack, Siddaramaiah said the BJP, which has been demanding resignation of George for allegedly harassing the deceased officer, has no moral right to do so.
Responding to the charge by the deceased police official, George said he had no connection with Ganapathy andhad no personal issues with him and never harassed him.
"I have no connection with him. I have no personal issue with him. I never harassed him. Even in the TV interview he only mentioned in the last K J George Home Minister," he said.
Reacting to BJP's demand for his resignation, George said it has been demanding it from day one of his assuming charge as the minister.
"Let BJP produce proof or evidence that I had harassed the official. How can one resign on a mere allegation. If they have proof, let them come out with it.There should be some truth before I give my resignation," he said.
Ganapathy's wife Pavana said, "We only know that he had pressure from the department. He has said what ever he had to. We don't know any thing, he used to say same things to us often.
(REOPENS MDS1)
George claimed he had no contact with Ganapathy since
2014.
"As I recollect, in March 2014 he was serving at Rajgopalnagar Police Station (in Bengaluru). He was suspended in a case, after which he came to me asking me to intervene in the matter, but I clearly told him I could not do so because I cannot interfere in matters of police department. Thereafter there has been no contact," George said, adding he had not spoken to any other police officials regarding Ganapathy.
Ganapathy's brother Thammaiah, also a senior police official, said his allegations against senior officials were imaginary.
"Please don't compare with other cases, he was under severe depression. He was undergoing treatment at M S Ramaih Hospital. After coming to Mangaluru he was under treatment from his friend who is a doctor.
"His allegations are imaginary...; I'm not trying to defend anybody," Thammaiah said.
Maintaining that his brother was unable to handledepression, he said, "No one from the department had harassedhim. Not even one promotion or increment was delayed to him."
He also said he was not speaking under pressure from government or senior officials. "All our batch mates knew that Ganapathy was under depression."
Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "He has named ADGP Prasad pointing out that some thing had happened when he worked with him eight years ago."
He had also named Mohanty (IGP, Lokayukta Police) and also Minister George.
"We cannot say anything without inquiry," he said, adding, Ganapathy had never got in touch with him or spoken to him.
IGP Southern Range B K Singh said no death note was found.He said on searching the room two empty cartridges were found and two rounds were fired. Also, some medical treatment slips were found.
Singh said Ganapathy's father had given a complaint stating that his son "was in depression due to family problem."
A case of unnatural death had been registered under CrPC section 174, he added.
Ganapathy was a native of Munjarayapattana, Siddhapur near Madikeri and belonged to the 1991 batch.He was a former sportsman and entered service through the sports quota.
