In a move by the Central Bureau of Investigation that could create ripples in Karnataka politics, the state minister for Urban Planning and Development KJ George has been named the first accused in an FIR in the death of Mangaluru DySP K Ganapathy.
51-year-old K Ganapathy committed suicide by hanging himself at a Vinayaka lodge in Madikeri and his son Nehal Ganapathy had approached the court alleging that his father had been under pressure from politicians and senior police officers.
The CBI’s FIR is based on the complaint registered by Ganapathy’s son at the Kushal Nagar police station which was forwarded to the Madikeri town police station. The FIR has also named top police officer Pranov Mohanty who is currently serving as the IGP Lokayukta.
The third accused as per the FIR is AM Prasad who is currently the ADGP of state intelligence. 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..."
In September, 2016, KJ George was given a clean chit by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Karnataka police.
Director General of Police CID, Kishore Chandra had then said, "There is no clear evidence against any of the three accused in the Ganapathy suicide case and the report was submitted this morning."