Ganapati suicide returns to haunt K J George, after FSL report expose

Bengaluru: While K J George may have received a clean chit from CID in the suicide case of deputy superintendent of police, M K Ganapati a media expose suggesting tampering of evidences related to the case has returned to haunt the minister and others who were given a clean chit in the case.

It may be recalled that hours before his suicide, Ganapati in an interview to a local news channel in Madikeri, had alleged that a politician and higher police officials were harrassing him. The death note left behind by the officer also contained names of Congress leader and then Home Minister –KJ George, his son and two senior police officers.

Meanwhile an expose carried out by a reputed media channel has claimed destruction of evidences and a botched up investigation thereby raising questions on the clean chit given to K J George, who had to resign from the home minister post following the furore witnessed after Ganapathi’s suicide.

The forensic report states that Ganapathi has made several phone calls before his death and also that several data from his computer and mobile were deleted around the time of his death. About 31 phone call details, 791 text files, 52 SMS, 910 excel files, over 100 e-mails, 2500 pictures, 30 call log, 31 PPT files and 352 phone numbers have been destroyed from his mobile and computer, the report is said to have stated. As many as 199 files from his 16 GB pen drive and 180 files from his 8 GB pen drive have been deleted.

As per sources, the FSL report states that the mobile phone of Ganapathi was on even after his death and it was turned off and on at least 20 times on the day of his death. A total of 30 calls have been deleted. The audio calls of his last day too have been deleted and before his death had called top brasses of the police department. It is further said that the fingerprints of the room where Ganapathi was found dead too have not been collected. The belt used by Ganapathi to hang himself was a leather belt, while police use a canvas belt.

Notably while the family members of his family had approached the High court seeking a CBI probe into the case, the same was dismissed. However, Ganapathi's father Kushalappa has challenged the high court order in the Supreme Court.Reacting to the revelations in the forensic report, Kushalappa and the deceased Ganapathi's brother Mathew said it shows a cover-up operation was carried out and said that if the case was handed over to the CBI they are hopeful of getting justice.