Ramanagaram SP Chandragupta has ordered an investigation into the suicide of Shivanna, a farmer, who named DGP Om Prakash’s son Kartikesh in his dying declaration.
The 60-year-old farmer consumed poison on Sunday allegedly over property dispute and named Kartikesh and other police officials to be responsible for his decision to take his own life.
Reports say that the statements of Shivanna’s family members have been recorded and are being examined.
A senior police official told Deccan Herald that the video footage in which Shivanna named a few influential people for being responsible for his death, will be verified.
Shivanna’s son Arun Kumar alleged that the police asked him not to name the DGP’s son in his complaint.
“After my father’s death, I went to the police station to lodge a complaint but the police asked me not to name DGP’s son Kartikesh in the complaint. I told the police that my father has mentioned Kartikesh’s name in the video but they did not pay heed. The police should consider the video as evidence and conduct a fair investigation,” he was quoted as saying.
Shivanna’s daughter Mamatha told The New Indian Express that the family has sought police protection, as her father had named influential people before his death. She also said that the family was being threatened by Lokesh, their uncle.
In his dying declaration, Shivanna accused Kartikesh and other police officials of supporting his rival Lokesh in a land dispute.
Responding to the accusations, DGP Om Prakash denied his son’s involvement in the suicide.
He said that Kartikesh was currently abroad and that his name was being dragged into the matter without reason.