DySP's death: Panel grills inspector on probe lapses, confusing answers

The Justice K N Keshavanarayana Commission of Enquiry has lambasted Madikeri police inspector Medappa for giving confusing statements and also for failing to preserve evidence in the case related to the death of DySP M K Ganapathi.

The commission recorded Medappa's statement from 11 am to 5.15 pm. He gave confusing answers to the questions asked by the commission chairman, it is learnt.

The government had constituted the commission of enquiry in July 2016.

Justice Keshavanarayana asked Medappa, "Why did you not check the status of M K Ganapathi when he gave an interview to a news channel. According to your statement, police broke open the doors to gain entry into the room where Ganapathi was staying. But you did not hand over the parts of the doors which were broken."

"You (Medappa) had videographed the entire mahajar and copied it to the computer, but you had not taken the memory card into your possession. Why did you instruct to delete some of the videos?," said Justice Keshavanarayana.

"Before bringing down the hanging body of Ganapathi, why did you not contact forensic experts. Did you examine fingerprints on the doors, fan, pistol? You are saying that you had submitted all evidence to the CID. Where is the acceptance letter? Why did you not seize Ganapathi's mobile phone? Some of the videos on that phone were deleted. Who deleted those videos?" the judge asked Medappa.

"You have conducted a shoddy investigation and failed to preserve important evidence," Justice Keshavanarayan said.

To all the questions, Medappa answered he did not think that way, he did not know and he had acted on the instructions of senior officers.

The commission has so far recorded the statements of all 49 witnesses.  

Justice Keshavanarayana said a final report will be submitted to the government based on the statements of witnesses and the FSL report.