A local court on Monday ordered the police to file an FIR against Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and two police officers for abetting the suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapati.
Mr. George, 58, has resisted quitting on the grounds that there is no direct evidence of his role in the death of MK Ganapathi, who was found hanging in uniform earlier this month after accusing the politician of harassing him in a television interview. The minister, who handles Urban Development, has so far been supported by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
George declined to comment when journalists sought a response from him.
Following the order, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has gone into a huddle with senior ministers to take a call on whether George’s resignation should be obtained or not. They will also discuss whether or not to appeal to the Karnataka High Court in connection with the FIR over George’s alleged involvement in the suicide.
Ganapathy’s wife Pavana and Nehal had approached the court, stating the police had rejected a complaint lodged by them with the Kushalanagar police on July 10 against George and IPS officials A M Prasad and Pranab Mohanty.
In his complaint, Nehal had said his father had made a “dying declaration” naming George and the two officers and their acts amounted to “abetting suicide”.
Appealing to the court to take cognisance of the offence punishable under IPC section 306 read with Section 34, the complaint also claimed the accused were highly placed and influential people who had prevailed upon police from taking action against them.
