The probe into the suicide of DySP M.K. Ganapathy, who alleged that he was being harassed by two senior IPS officers and a minister, in a media interview hours before he hanged himself to death seems to have been derailed in the initial stages itself, activists and opposition parties have alleged.
While the police have only registered a case of unnatural death and not booked the senior officials and Minister K.J. George for abetment to suicide, what has also come under severe criticism is the statements made by senior cops about Ganapathy, even before the probe takes off.
Even before the autopsy was completed, B.K. Singh, IGP (South Range) has on Friday morning made a statement at Madikeri that the DySP was under medication for depression. Mr. Singh speaking to The Hindu said that they had found some prescription chits indicating that Ganapathy was under medication from a psychiatrist from Mangaluru. “We are yet to question the doctor to ascertain the exact issues he was suffering from,” he said.
“It is said that the police department seems to be in a cover up mode. The statements about depression and being under medication even before the probe has taken off in full swing seems to be an attempt to explain off the deceased officer’s outburst to the media hours before his death,” said Adarsh Iyer of Janadhikara Sangrama Parishath, an anti-corruption body.
In the interview, Ganapathy had named former Mome Minister K.J. George, senior IPS officers A.M. Prasad, ADGP (Intelligence) and Pronab Mohanty, IGP, Lokayukta Police, as those responsible for anything that happened to him as they he alleged were harassing him.
What has also strengthened the charge of a cover up by the police is the fact that despite such open statement by the deceased officer, the Madikeri police have only registered a case of unnatural death under section 174 of Criminal Procedure Code and not a case against the three persons named for abetment to suicide under Section 306 of Indian Penal Code.
Former DG&IGP Shankar M. Bidari said that the interview Ganapathy gave to a private television channel hours before his death can be considered as a "dying declaration" and was acceptable as evidence under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. "It is a fit case where abetment to suicide be booked against persons named by him in the interview as responsible for whatever happens to him in future. Even if we assume that the police were not aware of the interview when they registered the FIR, they have to now rework the FIR and add Section 306 of IPC against the individuals named by Ganapathy,” Mr. Bidari maintained.
RTI activist T.J. Abraham has written to the DG&IGP asking him as to why the police have not booked a case of abetment against the three. “There is clear evidence – statement of a dying man saying the three are responsible for whatever happens to him and the man commits suicide. What would have the police done if it was anybody else? The police should not only suspend Pronab Mohanty and A M Prasad but also arrest them along with the minister K.J. George,” he said.
Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the probe into the case from Madikeri police and a special team from CID is on the way to Madikeri.
Ganapathy's last day
July 7, 2016:
10:30 am : M.K. Ganapthy checks into a room in Vinayaka Lodge, Madikeri.
11:00 am : Visits the studio of a local TV channel TV One , where he said he was being harassed by senior officials and wanted to give a tell-all interview. He was there at the channel premises till about 1:30 pm after recording the interview and left after lunch.
2:00 pm : Returns to the lodge in an auto rickshaw, goes to his room and locks himself.
4:30 pm : TV One starts announcing that it would air the interview of a police officer from Kodagu alleging harassment and corruption by a minister, that night at 8:30 pm.
Kodagu police soon visit the television office to inquire as to who the officer was. On knowing it was M K Ganapathy, police contacted his younger brother M.K. Thammaiah, Dy SP in Ramangaram. Ganapthy doesn't answer phone calls. Police starts searching as to where he was put up.
7:35 pm: Madikeri Police trace Ganapathy to have checked into Vinayaka Lodge. They rush to the lodge only see him hanging from the ceiling fan through the window of the room. Soon, they broke open the door and retrieved his body.
