BENGALURU: Almost a month has passed since the sensational suicide of DySP M K Ganapathy, and — would you believe it? — not a single investigator is working on the case.
Ganapathy killed himself after naming a minister and two IPS officers as his tormenters. The minister, K J George, has since resigned, but little has moved otherwise.
A magistrate court in Madikeri had clearly directed the police to take up the investigation, but they are too scared to do a thing.
The police have not summoned or recorded the statements of any of the three accused: George, A M Prasad and Pronab Mohanty.
The CID took up the case on July 8, a day after Ganapathy’s suicide, and began collecting evidence. But it was suddenly on a leash when the government announced a judicial probe.
Simultaneously, a magistrate ordered the Madikeri Town police to file an FIR and probe the case. With three agencies in the picture, all unsure about what to do, the case is now an orphan.
In private, police agree without hesitation that no one wants to take up a case that antagonises such powerful people. “You have a powerful former minister and two top police officials in the dock. Do you think anyone here will have the guts to summon them?” a policeman in Madikeri said when Express wanted to know the status of the case.
Even for the record, there’s little to show. “We have collected information and evidence, and recorded the statements of Ganapathy’s family and friends,” Medappa, inspector at the Madikeri Town police station, said.
But he refused to reply when asked if the accused had been called for their statements.
Madikeri Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad is on leave for eight days. Mutthuraj, Additional Superintendent of Police, Chamarajanagar, now holds additional charge of Madikeri.
A police source said, “Rajendra Prasad had applied for 10 days’ leave but was sanctioned only eight. Everybody knows this case is a headache, and is waiting for orders from DG-IGP Om Prakash on who should investigate it.”
Mutthuraj told Express, “I am in charge till Rajendra Prasad returns. But I have received no orders to take up the probe.” Prasad said he is the Investigating officer. Om Prakash was unavailable for comment.