Karnataka minister KJ George resigns after court orders FIR in cop suicide

Bengaluru: Karnataka minister KJ George stepped down after a court ordered the registration of an FIR against him and two top police officials on Monday, in connection with the alleged suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police MK Ganapathy, which has raised a huge storm in the state.

The order by Additional Judicial Magistrate First Class Annapurneshwari came on a private criminal complaint filed by the deceased police officer's son Nehal Ganapathy requesting the court to direct the Kodagu police to take up investigation against the minister and two officers for allegedly abetting his father's suicide.

"Allegations against me are far from truth. Will consult with my legal expert for further action," KJ George said.

"I am confident that I'll come out clean as my conscious is clear," KJ George added on his name appearing in the Dy SP's suicide case.

Ganapathy’s wife Pavana and Nehal had approached the court, stating the police had rejected a complaint lodged by them with the Kushalanagar police on July 10 against George and IPS officials A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty.

Read: Mangaluru DySP suicide note names minister, senior cops

In his complaint, Nehal had said his father had made a "dying declaration" naming George and the two officers and their acts amounted to "abetting suicide".

Appealing to the court to take cognisance of the offence punishable under IPC section 306 read with Section 34, the complaint also claimed the accused were highly placed and influential people who had prevailed upon police from taking action against them.

Read: Karnataka DySp suicide: Opposition disrupts Assembly proceedings for 6th day

Nehal's counsel M T Nanaiah said the investigating officers would have to question George and the two police officers and take a call on whether to arrest them depending on the probe.

Reacting to the court's directive in Bengaluru, Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said the minister should resign immediately and the two IPS officers be suspended to pave the way for an impartial probe.

Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he gave an interview to a local TV channel, stating the minister and A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP- Lokayukta) would be responsible "if anything happens to me".

Read: Karnataka Govt faces heat over DySP suicide; Opposition demands CBI inquiry

The case is currently being investigated by the state CID. Coming under attack from the Opposition, which has been stalling Assembly proceedings since Monday last, the Karnataka government has constituted a judicial commission headed by K N Keshavanarayana to inquire into the alleged suicide.

The commission would probe the "circumstances and events" leading to the "unnatural death" of Ganapathy.

The Opposition BJP and JDS have rejected the judicial probe and are insisting on a CBI inquiry and the resignation of George.