Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 27: Justice Keshavanarayana Commission of enquiry, which had been set up to go into the case of suicide by the then deputy superintendent of police (DySP), M K Ganapati, who had been posted in the office of the district superintendent of police here, in a Madikeri lodge, has submitted a 320-page report to the government. Sources said that the commission has given clean chit to minister, K J George, and top police officers, A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty, who had been accused by the deceased officer of being his tormentors, in a television interview a day before his death.

The report was handed over on Monday February 26 by Justice Keshavanarayana to state home minister, Ramalinga Reddy, and additional chief secretary in home department, Subhashchandra, at Vikasa Soudha here. The report, which contains statements obtained from 48 witnesses including two investigating officers connected with the said suicide and has been prepared duly taking into account documents in the possession of criminal investigation department which too conducted investigation and submitted a report, contains a number of recommendations, it is gathered.

M K Ganapati

The commission however, did not subject minister, K J George, and the two IPS officers named above. Clarifying his position, Justice Keshavanarayana said that the commission had been formed for conducting overall enquiry about Ganapati case and that no one had been considered as accused. As no one was named as accused, there was no question of subjecting anyone to investigation, and the report has been prepared based on statement of witnesses who presented themselves before the commission, he stated.

Justice Keshavanarayana however felt that it would have helped the commission if the father of Ganapati, Kushalappa, his sister and brothers had recorded their statements, but they did not opt to record their statements although notices had been served to them for personal appearance. He said the report of the commission, which was prepared after personally visiting the lodge at Madikeri, and going through first information report, investigation report of criminal investigation department and report of the forensic science laboratory, has been impartial.

The home minister said that the report would be handed over to the chief secretary in his department, and that further action would be initiated on the basis of information he would provide thereafter.