Just few days after the suicide of Mangaluru DSP MK Ganapathy at Madikeri in Kodagu district, the ruling Government has blamed his wife for the suicide saying she had ill-treated him forcing him to take the extreme step.
The issue rocked the ongoing Assembly on Monday as both the Opposition BJP and JD(S) trooped to the well of the House demanding resignation of Bengaluru Development Minister KJ George and the enquiry to be handed over to CBI. Making a statement in the legislative Assembly amidst din, Home Minister G Parameshwara directly blamed the family (wife) in Ganapathy’s suicide based on the statement made by the deceased DSP's father, M Kushalappa.
Parameshwara said quoting the statement of Kushalappa, “When Ganapathy was serving in Bengaluru, his wife and kids stayed at Mangaluru. She had sidelined him. Even after Ganapathy got a promotion and went to Mangaluru, he was ill-treated by his wife.” Parameshwara also quoted Ganapathy's brother MK Thammaiah, a serving police officer, to substantiate the argument that Ganapathy suffered from depression because of family issues. The CID is investigating the case, Parameshwara said.
However, Ganapathy's father Kushalappa said he was forced to sign a statement before handing over the body. "They just told me to sign a paper stating it was a procedure before handing over my son's body. The statement was prepared by the cops. I had not read it."
Ganapathy committed suicide at a lodge in Madikeri in Kodagu district and blamed KJ George and two other senior police officers in an interview to a local TV channel before his suicide.
launching an all-out attack against the Government, the BJP and the JD(S) accused it of trying to "cover up" the case by handing over the investigation to State CID and questioning Ganapathy's mental health even before the probe. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the issue was serious and the Home Minister will make suo motu statement.
Objecting to this, Opposition members said they be allowed to raise the issue first and George must resign. Shettar said, "By making a statement even before the discussion, the Government is showing how much serious it is about the issue. It is an attempt to cover up the issue."
Intervening, Speaker KB Koliwad said the issue will be taken up for discussion, but he will allow Home Minister to make the statement first.
This angered the Opposition members with the BJP and the JD(S) MlAs entering the well of the House and shouting slogans against the Government calling it "a murderer".
Meanwhile, the BJP produced a two-sheet personal record of the officer where the Government had given good health certificate before he was promoted.
In another development, Ganapathy's wife and two sons have registered a complaint against KJ George and two senior police officers and sought an FIR based on his suicide declaration.
Meanwhile, former Minister and senior Congress leader Janardhana Poojary asked the Chief Minister to sack KJ George.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ruled out a CBI probe into the suicide of the DSP, who had named former George in his death note. The House was adjourned following the protests.