DySP suicide: Ganapathy had chequered, controversial career

Was bitter about not being promoted and accused seniors of framing him in encounter case

M.K. Ganapati.

M.K. Ganapathy, the officer who ended his life in Madikeri on Thursday, had a 24-year-long career that was dotted with controversies.

His first brush with controversy was in 2008 when he was Inspector in Mangaluru East Police Station during the infamous church attacks.

Transferred

He had been transferred out of Mangaluru after the lathicharge at Kulshekara. A departmental inquiry had been ordered.

The image of a tough but controversial officer was cemented in his next posting as Inspector in Yeshwantpur when he killed a 20-year-old rowdy sheeter Prashanth in September 2010.

Prashanth’s mother went to court alleging that the encounter was staged.

Mr. Ganapathy was suspended and faced another inquiry.

Though he recently came out of this probe unscathed, the case damaged his career; his promotion to Dy SP rank was held back for over five years.

Charges of corruption

He again landed in trouble in 2014 when he held charge as inspector of Madiwala and inspector of Rajgopalnagar earlier. He was suspended and faced a departmental inquiry in both places over charges of corruption.

His younger brother M.K. Thammaiah joined the force as a sub-inspector but was promoted as a Dy SP much before him.

Thammaiah was posted as an assistant commissioner of police in the central crime branch, Bengaluru where he investigated several high-profile terror cases.

He is presently posted as Dy SP, Ramanagaram district.

Mr. Ganapathy’s colleagues recall him as a tough officer who often landed in controversies.

“He was a sportsman and was very proud of that. He should have braved the odds and stood his ground. It is sad that he ended his life this way,” said V.S. D’Souza, a retired police officer.

He who worked with Mr. Ganapathy during multiple postings.

‘Disappointed’

Another former colleague said, “After his promotion was withheld for over five years, he was very disappointed, and also about being given an administrative posting in Mangaluru.

He was upset with many senior police officers whom he accused of framing him in the encounter case and harassing him.”