‘Political Game in DySP Ganapathi’s Suicide’- Ivan
“It’s all about Political gimmicks played by BJP in connection with the suicide of DySP Ganapathi”- Ruling Party Congress Chief Whip in the State Ivan D’Souza
Mangaluru: Recalling the incident, Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he gave an interview to a local TV channel, saying that the minister George and A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP- Lokayukta) would be responsible “if anything happens to me”. Addressing media persons on the suicide case of DySP Ganapathi, Ruling Party Congress Chief Whip in the State Ivan D’Souza said, ” Even though the opposition is demanding to file a FIR in the DySP Ganapathi case, the government is not ready to accept their demands, because the suicide case has already been registered under 174 Indian Penal Code- that itself is a FIR, we don’t need one more FIR. Also, we are not ready to accept the demands by the opposition to sack minister K J George from the cabinet.
IPC 174 clearly states that ‘When the officer in charge of a police station or some other police officer specially empowered by the State Government in that behalf receives information that a person has committed suicide, or has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident, or has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some other person has committed an offence, he shall immediately give intimation thereof to the nearest Executive Magistrate empowered to hold inquests, and, unless otherwise directed by any rule prescribed by the State Government, or by any general or special order of the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate, shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, in the presence of two or more respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood shall make an investigation, and draw up a report of the apparent cause of death, describing such wounds, fractures, bruises, and other marks of injury as may be found on the body, and stating in what manner, or by what weapon or instrument (if any); such marks appear to have been inflicted. The report shall be signed by such police officer and other persons, or by so many of them as concur therein, and shall be forthwith forwarded to the District Magistrate or the Sub-divisional Magistrate.’. All this has been done in DySP Ganapathi’s suicide case, then why another FIR. The case has been handed over to CID, and after proper investigation, justice will be served. Period.
As the standoff over the alleged suicide by a Deputy Superintendent of Police persisted, Opposition parties are still continuing their protests in the Karnataka Assembly sticking to their demand for sacking Minister K J George and a CBI probe into the incident. Continuing their overnight dharna in the House BJP and JDS members are refusing to settle for anything less than meeting their twin demands by the government, and are not allowing the session to continue, which is condemnable. As soon as the Assembly met, Opposition members entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the government for its “adamant” stand in protecting George. But why? Minister George has done nothing wrong. I ask these BJP leaders, let them give us one proof/instance where minister George has gone wrong in this DySP’s suicide- we will see that CM kicks out minister George, but until then we will support him.”
Even though Speaker K B Koliwada appealed to the members to maintain order and allow him to conduct Question Hour but it went unheeded. This is how the BJP leaders behave in the assembly/cabinet – look at them, they are jogging around the Vidhana Soudha, singing, dancing etc – is this the way to bring justice to DySP Ganapathi’s case. But sensing the belligerent mood of the Opposition, the government managed to secure passage of five bills, including Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill 2016, without any debate amid the din. Even as the Opposition raised slogans against the government, the Speaker after the passage of the bills has adjourned the proceedings to July 18.
The government can’t take a decision right away just because there are protests and BJP leaders are holding dharna during the assembly. Do the BJP leaders/members know that during BJP rule there had been 122 police suicide cases, namely 9 in 2003, 12 in 2005, 5 in 2006, 24 in 2007, 4 in 2008, 5 in 2009, 13 in 2010, 9 in 2011, 17 in 2012, and 15 in 2013. How many FIR’s had been filed and how many CID/CBI inquiries have been done during BJP rule, on these police suicide cases. Does BJP stalwarts Jagdish Shettar and HD Kumaraswamy know about this? Why are they remaining numb on this now ? They should be ashamed of themselves. And now they want us to file FIR in this DySP’ s case, which is not going to happen.
In conclusion, all I want to say is that “BJP is simply blackmailing the state government. It’s just a political gimmick they are showing on this suicide case. They need to stop their foolish games played during the assembly, and allow the session to go smoothly for the benefit of the state and the people. They are hurting the people through their dharna and nonsense acts. DySP Ganapathi’s case has already been registered under Section 174 of IPC, and also CID investigation is in process. Give us six months time, and we will give the complete results, thereby bringing justice to Ganapthi’s family, his relatives and friends.”
