CID to probe alleged suicide of Mangaluru DySP

Bengaluru: Karnataka government has handed over to CID the investigation into the alleged suicide of Mangaluru DySP M K Ganapathy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday 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 on Thursday.

Read: Mangaluru DySP Ganapati was upset with delay in promotion, transfers

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 had said.

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 and had 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 anything, he used to say same things to us often."