JOIN USThe alleged suicide by Mangaluru DySP M K Ganapathy today rocked the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, with the Opposition demanding resignation of minister K J George and action against two senior police officers named by the officer in his suicide note.
Launching an all out attack against government, BJP and JD(S) accused it of trying to "cover up" the case by handing over the investigation to state CID and questioning Ganapathy's mental health even before the probe.
Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July seven. As the House met, Opposition BJP Leader Jagadish Shettar demanded that the issue be discussed first and Minister for Bengaluru Development George should resign.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the issue was serious and "every one's life is important, it is unfortunate that this incident has happened. This is a serious issue; Home Minister will make suo motu statement", he said.
Objecting to this, Opposition members said they be allowed to raise the issue first and George must resign.
Shettar said, "By making a statement even before the discussion government is showing how much serious it is about the issue. It is an attempt to cover up the issue."
Intervening, Speaker K B Koliwad said the issue will be taken up for discussion, but he will allow Home Minister to make the statement first.
This angered the opposition members with BJP and JD(S) MLAs entering the well of the House and shouting slogans against the government calling it "a murderer".
Amidst pandemonium, Home Minister G Parameshwara read out a statement saying Ganapathy's father Kushalappa in his complaint had said his son was under depression as he had family issues especially with his wife.
"When Ganapathy was working in Bengaluru his wife and children were in Mangaluru. After he was promoted and transferred as DySP to Mangaluru she continued ill treating him, because of this my son was under depression. Losing hopes in life, he has committed suicide," Parameshwara said quoting from Kushalappa's complaint in his statement.
Noting that Ganapathy's brothers M K Thammaiah, also a DySP, and M K Machaiah have said that their brother was under depression due to family issues, Parmeshwara said, the case has been registered under 174 of CrPC and investigation handed over to CID.
He said CID will also probe the allegations made by Ganapathy before committing suicide and action will be taken in accordance with law after the investigation.
Parameshwara said that a separate complaint has been filed by Ganapathy's wife and son yesterday, and it has also been forwarded to CID.
After the Home Minister's statement, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes, even as opposition shouted slogans against the government.
As the House resumed, opposition again came to the well and started shouting slogans.
Intervening, the Speaker asked the opposition to participate in the discussion.
After repeated attempts by the Speaker to pacify the opposition, Shettar initiated the discussion on the issue.
Pointing out various incidents of officials being hounded by the government, he questioned its intention of raising doubts about Ganapathy's mental status even before the investigation.
Questioning not registering the case under Sec 306 of the IPC (abetment of suicide), he asked how could one expect a fair inquiry by CID which comes under government.
He also pointing out loopholes like taking into account the version given by Thammaiah, who did not enjoy good relationship with Ganapathy.
Deputy Leader of Opposition R Ashoka objected to questions being raised over Ganapathy's mental health.
Pointing at Ganapathy's annual performance report by Commissioner's office, he said he has been marked good for his conduct, health and other criteria.
Hours before taking the extreme step by hanging from a ceiling fan in a hotel room in Madikeri in Kodagu district, Ganapathy had said in an interview to a local T V channel, "If anything happens to me hereafter, they are responsible.
"Who? (police officials) A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP-Lokayukta) and also former Home Minister George."