The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) has named Karnataka Minister for Bangalore Development & Town Planning K.J. George as a key figure in the demise of former DSP M.K. Ganapathy who reportedly committed suicide in July, 2016.

Ganapathy was found hanging from the ceiling of a lodge in Kodagu District.  It was thought of as a suicide at that time and the police registered it so. However, Ganapathy’s brother and father alleged that there was some foul-play as Ganapathy wasn’t weak enough to hang himself. They accused former Lok Ayoktha IG Pranav Mohanty and ADGP AM Prasad of having harassed Ganapathy to no end.

They also referred to a TV interview in which Ganapathy had hinted about it prior to his demise. Following their allegations, chief-minister Siddaramaiah ordered a CB-CID inquiry into Ganapathy’s demise; the inquiry, however, was wound up with the CB-CID stating that all the three accused were ‘innocent’ and didn’t incite Ganapathy’s suicide.

After Ganapathy’s brother and father moved the Supreme Court against this, the apex Court ordered a CBI inquiry with the direction to wind up the inquiry within 3 months. In its FIR, the CBI has added Geroge as one of the accused along with Mohanty and Prasad, thus creating huge excitement and panic among the police and political circles in Bangalore.

Observers point out that irrespective of the course of the investigation process, the opposition BJP in the State would make its best possible attempt to derive maximum political mileage out of this to embarrass the ruling Congress during next year’s Assembly polls. BJP has, in the meanwhile, demanded the resignation of the Minister at once.