CID to probe alleged suicide of Karnataka DySP Ganapathy

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government today handed over to CID the investigation into alleged suicide of Mangaluru DySP M K Ganapathy which has triggered a storm with the police official in his pre-death declaration accusing a senior minister and two top officials of harassing him.

Facing the Opposition heat with two senior police officials allegedly committing suicide within a week, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the CID probe and warned of action against the seniors accused of harassing Ganapathy.

"We have handed over this case to the CID. After the CID submits its investigation report, we will take appropriate action," Siddaramaiah said here, as BJP demanded resignation of Minister for Bengaluru Development K J George, who earlier held the Home portfolio, and was named by Ganapathy.

George, however, denied any connection with the police officer, whose body was yesterday found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri.

Three days ago, the body of DySP of Chikkamagaluru sub-division Kallappa Handibag (35), accused of kidnapping a person for ransom, was also found hanging in his father-in- law's home at Murgod in Belagavi district.

Hours before taking the extreme step, in an interview to a local news channel in Madikeri, Ganapathy had said, "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 had said.

Ganapathy had also said, "If anything happens to me hereafter, they are responsible. Who? (police officials) A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP-Lokayukta), and also former Home Minister George..."

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said in New Delhi that George should be dropped as minister immediately.
Siddaramaiah dismissed the BJP demand, saying it has no moral right to do so.

Coming in the line of Opposition fire over Ganapathy's charge against him, George said, "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."

A delegation of BJP leaders led by Yeddyurappa met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi seeking his intervention to impress upon the state government to hand over the case to CBI, party sources said.
 

BJP, led by former Speaker K G Bopaiah, held a protest in Kodagu, while the party under the leadership of former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka staged demonstrations here demanding action against officials named and resignation of George.

Alleging that honest officials were unable to work in?the state, JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy sought George's resignation and action against officials?named by Ganapathy.