Patil Suicide Case: Bommai Dismisses Oppn Allegations Of Interference

Bengaluru, April 16: Dismissing Congress’s allegations of interference by his government in the investigation of Santosh Patil’s suicide case, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the Congress tried to shut MK Ganapathy suicide case by not even mentioning the then home minister KJ George’s name in the FIR, whereas his government has filed an FIR as per the complaint filed by the deceased’s family members.

“In the George case, there was a video accusing him and a death note. But, was he named in the FIR? Wasn’t there an attempt to bury the case? The FIR was registered after a court direction. In fact, the family of the deceased had to go to court. But, we have registered the FIR based on the complaint,” he told reporters here, reacting to Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah’s allegations. Ganapathy, who was Mangaluru DySP, had allegedly committed suicide at a lodge in Kodagu on July 7, 2016.

In a video message before suicide, he had named George, and two top IPS officers responsible for his suicide. Replying to a query on why has not KS Eshwarappa was not arrested under Prevention of Corruption Act, Bommai said, “The post-mortem has already been conducted. Then forensic report will be submitted. Based on that we will scientifically know what happened. Further sections will be inserted based on the findings. Let the probe take place.”

He also accused the Congress of being the prosecutor and judge in the Patil case. “People know what Congress is all about. What all cases they tried to cover up when they were in power. So, which section should be invoked when…it will be done as per law… We have not interfered in any way,” he said. Hitting back at Congress for its stand on corruption, Bommai said the investigation into Patil’s death will be held as per law.

“The Congress has announced protests. They talk about corruption. Are they clean? Are they holy? Let them first calculate the wealth they hold in their cupboards,” he said. The Congress is making all efforts to set narratives, but it won’t happen, Bommai said. “People of Karnataka have seen Congress for many years and their scams. We will have to place those scams before people. The Time will come,” he said.

UNI