George may get clean chit in DySP Ganapati case

Bengaluru: The Justice Keshavanarayana Commission, which has completed the inquiry into the DySP Ganapati death case is likely to give a clean chit to Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, the prime accused in the case as he was never summoned by the judicial commission for questioning.

In the commission’s report, according to the Investigation Commission Act Section 8B, notice should be served and investigation conducted. As the commission finished its probe without questioning George, the minister may pass through the second test easily.

The opposition BJP had accused George of being involved in Ganapati’s murder and staged a protest both inside and outside the Assembly demanding that the case be submitted to CBI for inquiry whereafter Chief Minister Siddaramaiah handed over the case to CID. But, when opposition parties continued to exert pressure, the CM ordered for a judicial probe into the case.

On the basis of allegations made by Ganapati against Minister George and three senior IPS officers during a television interview, there were expectations that the commission would conduct a trial of George and senior IPS officers A M Prasad and Pranav Mohanti. However, though the commission invited objections from public twice, nobody turned up to share any information or objections.

During the interrogation, nobody complained about Minister George or the two IPS officers’ role in the incident. Hence, the commission didn’t want to question the minister or IPS officials. A notice was issued to Ganapati’s father, younger brothers, sister, father-in-law and many others asking their objections, but the blood relatives didn’t attend the investigation, the sources said.