The Supreme Court direction for a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Karnataka Deputy Superintendent of Police MK Ganapathy has become a major challenge for the ruling Congress Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ahead of 2018 Assembly polls. The Opposition BJP was quick to demand the resignation of then Home Minister and now Bengaluru Development Minister KG George who was allegedly named by Ganapthy in an interview to a local channel before he allegedly committed suicide.
BJP State president BS Yeddyurappa on Tuesday demanded immediate resignation of KJ George in connection with mysterious death of MK Ganapathy at Madikeri last year following the Supreme Court direction for a CBI probe into his death.
Welcoming the Supreme Court direction, Yeddyurappa said that “George should step down for paving way for a fair investigation by the CBI the country’s highest investigating agency.”
Ganapathy, a day before committing suicide in a lodge room at Madikeri on July 7 last year, had in an interview to a local channel alleged that he had been subjected to severe harassment by George and other top police officers and they should be held responsible if he decides to end his life by committing suicide.
As the main Opposition party BJP mounted pressure alleging Minister’s involvement, George resigned as Minister for Home to pave way for fair investigation by the CID to whom the case was referred for a thorough investigation. The CID in its preliminary report submitted to the State Government, had given clean chit to George and he was re-inducted into the Cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
However, family members of Ganapathy approached the Supreme Court as the Karnataka High Court refused to intervene in the matter of handing over the probe to the CBI.
Despite stiff opposition and arguments put forth by the State Government on the ongoing investigations by the CID in the case, Supreme Court Bench comprising of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Uday lalit ordered a CBI probe.
“In the interest of justice, the matter should be investigated by the CBI. There are certain startling facts in the case. An investigation is a fair manner is required to decide whether it is a case of murder or suicide,” the bench observed.