Ballistics test confirms bullets fired from DySP's service revolver

CID questions psychiatrist who was treating Ganapathi

Ballistics examination has confirmed that DySP M K Ganapathi had fired twice from his service revolver at the bed in the hotel room in Madikeri on Thursday before committing suicide. Ballistics experts from the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) in Bengaluru on Sunday visited the room number 315 of Vinayaka lodge in Madikeri where Ganapathi had committed suicide.

They found that the bullets were fired from Ganapathi’s service revolver. There were eight bullets in the revolver and two were found on the bed, sources said.

FSL Assistant Director Ravindranath and ballistics experts Nagabhushan and Prakash visited the lodge at 10.30 am and carried out an examination.

The team collected details on the distance from which the bullets were fired. They also spoke to the staff of the lodge.

Revolver prohibited
According to the police department rules, a DySP working in the office of IGP is not allowed to use the revolver. However, citing threat to his life, Ganapathi had taken permission to possess a revolver, the sources said.

On the other hand, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) teams continued their investigation into Ganapathi’s suicide on Sunday.

They collected the video footage of the room being broken open, certain photographs and Ganapathi’s clothes, wallet and mobile phone.

They also obtained the footage of the interview Ganapathi had given to a local television channel before ending his life.

However, they could not get the medical certificates and photograph of history-sheeter Prashanth, which Ganapathi had exhibited during the interview, the sources said. A CID team is interrogating the lodge staff.

The hotel staff have been directed not to go on leave and appear before the investigating team whenever summoned.

Meanwhile, BJP state general secretary and MLA C T Ravi on Sunday urged the authorities to file a case against Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, Lokayukta IGP Pronab Mohanty and ADGP (Intelligence) Ashit Mohan Prasad who were named by Ganapathi in his interview to the television channel. 

CID questions psychiatrist
The CID sleuths recorded the statement of Mangaluru-based psychiatrist Dr P K Kiran Kumar who was treating Ganapathi.

The CID team lead by ADGP C H Prathap Reddy and IGP Hemanth Nimbalkar arrived in Mangaluru on Saturday also conducted a mahazar of Ganapathi’s cabin at the IGP (Western range) office.

Dr Kumar said the CID officials questioned him on the treatment Ganapathi was undergoing. “Ganapathi had come to me for treatment of headache and memory loss. He was responding and was always calm. He had not spoken to me on any pressure from politicians or harassment from senior officers.

“The last time he visited me was on June 23 and was confident of getting cured. No politicians or police officers, other than the CID sleuths, has contacted me with regard to the suicide case,” he added.