DySP suicides: MLA Ravi takes on govt

MLA C T Ravi (in pic) on Saturday said that the state government should be ashamed for failing to arrest those involved in the kidnap case that later cost the life of DySP Kallappa Handibag.

Reacting to media queries over the incident that has generated a lot of heat, Ravi said, “We have not prevented them from arresting anybody, it is the Congress party that is ruling the state.”

When sought to know if the BJP will not pressurise for the arrest of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Khandya Praveen – who is the main suspect in the case and currently at large – Ravi shot back, “Is it not the duty of the police to arrest those against whom a first information report (FIR) has been filed?”

Continuing, Ravi said, “I am neither a home minister nor a representative of the government to direct the superintendent of police to probe into the case. I am a legislator and whenever anybody comes to me with grievances, obviously I will refer to the departments concerned. Similarly, if anybody comes to me with grievances related to the Police Department, I would have asked the police to take note of it. It is the prerogative of the policemen to look into its veracity.

“If Kallappa had not committed any wrong, why was the FIR filed against him? The superintendent should disclose whether there is any other evidence than call details record available with the complainant Tejas or audio clipping of the conversation over phone between Kallappa and the accused,” demanded Ravi.

Referring to DySP M K Ganapathi’s case, Ravi defended the decision of his party to intensify their protest for valid reasons. Before committing suicide, Ganapathi had given a dying declaration naming IPS officers A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George. In the absence of dying declaration, the party would not have had any rights to protest. Moreover, there are differences between the cases of Ganapathi and Kallappa as told by the chief minister himself. According to the statement made by the chief minister in the Assembly session, Kallappa ended his life fearing loss of honour.

Ravi demanded the police to disclose if Kallappa had left behind a suicide note and that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is already probing into the case, should make it public.

Ravi also demanded the handing over of both the cases to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and to ensure stringent action against whoever were responsible for the same. Or else, let it be a transparent probe by a judge, he added.