Bengaluru: Karnataka’s opposition BJP on Friday sought resignation of state Minister K.J. George, named by Deputy Superintendent of Police M.K. Ganapathi, before committing suicide, as being responsible with two IPS officers for whatever happens to him.
“George should resign as Ganapathi not only mentioned him in a note he left behind, but also named him in a television interview hours before he committed suicide for harassing and threatening him along with two IPS officers,” BJP lawmaker R. Ashoka told reporters here.
Lawmakers and leaders of the state’s BJP unit also staged a protest demo in the city, at Madikeri and Hubballi seeking a CBI inquiry into Ganapathi’s unnatural death.
George was the state home minister till October 30, 2015 from May 2013 when the Congress returned to power and has been Bengaluru Development Minister since then.
The two IPS officers whom also Ganapathi named in the note and the interview before he hanged in a lodge room are Additional Director General of police (intelligence) A.M. Prasad and Lokayukta (Ombudsman) Deputy Inspector General of Police Pronab Mohanty, who are based in Bengaluru.
“The state government should handover over the case to the CBI, as the state CID will not have a free hand to conduct a fair inquiry as it is under the state control,” said Ashok, a former home minister in the erstwhile BJP government (2008-13).
BJP lawmaker and opposition leader in legislative council K.Eshwarappa demanded the suspension of Prasad and Mohanty till the inquiry was completed, as Ganapathi held both of them responsible for harassing and forcing him to do unlawful things as Mangaluru DSP.
The party also decided to move an adjournment motion in the assembly when the ongoing monsoon session resumes on Monday for a discussion and a CBI probe into Ganapathi’s tragic death.
Ganapathi’s suicide was the second such incident this week three days after Chikkamagaluru rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Kalappa Handibagh, 34, hanged himself at Belagavi.
Meanwhile, Ganapathi’s last rites were performed by his elder son at Madikeri with full state honours, including a 21-gun salute by the district police.