The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Karnataka government to explain why a CBI probe should not be ordered into the suicide of deputy superintendent of police M K Ganapathy on July 7 last year.

A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and U U Lalit issued notice to the state government seeking their response within six weeks on a petition filed by M K Kushalappa, father of the deceased.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, contended that the officer, posted at the office of Inspector General of Police, Madikeri, was being hounded by then Minister K J George and other senior officers.

The court agreed to consider the plea by asking the petitioner to delete the name of the minister and other senior police officers from the list of respondents in the special leave petition.

The petitioner has challenged the Karnataka High Court's order of October 19, declining a plea for a CBI probe.

“We are of the opinion that transferring of investigation must be in rare and exceptional circumstances only. All steps were taken for ensuring a fair investigation. Superior officers other than two accused police officers were appointed by the investigating agency and the DGP oversaw the investigation throughout,” a division bench headed by high court Chief Justice S K Mukherjee had said.

The court had also noted that then minister George had resigned to facilitate proper investigation at the relevant time. The high court had also declined to look into the closure report filed by the CID in the case.