Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Friday, ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department into the suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police M.K. Ganapathy.
Sources in the CM's office confirmed to The Hindu that the decision was taken by Mr. Siddaramaiah in consultation with Home Minister G. Parameshwara. Sources also said that IPS officer Hemanth Nimbalkar will lead the probe team.
Minutes before the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Siddaramaiah also met with the Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash to obtain more details about the DySP's suicide.
On Thursday night, Ganapathy committed suicide at a lodge in Kodagu after accusing former Home Minister K.J. George, State intelligence chief A.M. Prasad, and Inspector General of Police, Lokayukta police, Pronab Mohanty of harassing him. He had also cited a threat to his life.
Meanwhile, Mr. George told reporters that he had not harassed the DySP. Rubbishing the allegations levelled against him, he also said he would not resign. "I have not harassed anyone in my 45-year political career," he said.
Earlier in the day, the postmortem of DySP Ganapati was completed at the Government Hospital at Madikeri and handed over to his relatives.
Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent Dsouza told The Hindu that the family members were taking the body to Rangasamudra for the last rites later in the day.
There were protests in Madikeri town by BJP activists and members of other organisations for sometime near the hospital. The protestors were dispersed once the body was shifted to Rangasamudra. The situation in Madikeri town is now normal, Mr. Dsouza said.
Meanwhile, preparations are in place for the last rites of Ganapati at his native village and his family members have already reached the place. Senior district level officials, including the Deputy Commissione, are also said to be on their way to Rangasamudra.
