Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 23: The judicial commission headed by Justice Keshavanarayana, which was entrusted with the task of investigating the suicide committed by deputy superintendent of police (DySP), M K Ganapati, in a lodge at Madikeri after alleging harassment at the hands of higher officers and minister, has concluded its hearing.

As the commission did not summon minister, K J George, for questioning him, there is likelihood of the minister being exonerated by the commission of all the charges. A commission of inquiry can make mention of people in its report only if it serves notice to them for personal appearance and seeks clarification on various issues. The fact that no such notices were issued to George has given rise to the notion that the minister may be freed of charges of his involvement with the above police officer's suicide. George had been given clean chit by the criminal investigation department (CID) which had undertaken investigation into the incident in the past.

After BJP fought inside and outside the legislature demanding entrustment of the said suicide case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe alleged involvement of minister and police officers with the above suicide, the state government had handed over the case to CID instead of CBI. The chief minister also had obtained resignation from George. After the opposition mounted further pressure, he gagged them by appointing a judicial commission, steadfastly refusing for probe by CBI.

Ganapati, in an interview with a local television channel at Madikeri prior to his suicide, had said that minister, K J George, and senior IPS officers, Pranab Mohanty and A M Prasad, would responsible for his death as and when it occurs. It was therefore naturally expected of the commission to interrogate them and record their statements.

Although the commission invited objections from the general public relating to the said suicide twice, the commission reportedly did not receive any response. Therefore the commission collected investigation report of CID and documents and evidences from Kodagu district police. The commission examined 47 persons including brother of Ganapati, Thammaiah, who happens to be a police officer, Kodagu district superintendent of police, police inspector, Medappa, manager of the lodge where Ganapati ended his life, etc.

Reportedly during the hearing, no one mentioned about the roles of K J George and two IPS officers in this case. Sources say that therefore the commission thought that it was unnecessary to examine these persons. Ganapati's father, younger brothers and sisters, uncle etc who were served with notices, chose neither to file objections nor to appear in person before the commission.