New Delhi: The Karnataka Government has opposed CBI probe into the suicide of Dy.SP M.K. Ganapathy who hanged himself at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7 last year.

Responding to a petition filed by M.K. Kushalappa, father of the deceased, the State Government maintained in the Supreme Court that a “thorough and in-depth investigation” has been carried out and no prudent person can term the investigation as biased. A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and U.U. Lalit will consider the matter on July 10 (tomorrow).

Kushalappa had contended that his son, then posted at the office of Inspector General of Police, Madikeri, was being hounded by Congress leader and Minister K.J. George and IPS Officers A.M. Prasad and Pranob Mohanty. Ganapathy had also made allegations of harassment and ill-treatment by superior officers just before the incident.

After his death, the Minister had to resign and the Police officers were transferred after the FIR was registered on July 19 following an order by a Madikeri court. However, the CID, which investigated the case, under the supervision of the Director General of Police, filed a closure report before a trial court.

Kushalappa then approached the Karnataka High Court and on October 19, 2016, the HC declined his plea for a CBI probe. He then approached the Supreme Court for justice.

Citing the HC order, the State told the Supreme Court, “Merely because the final result of the investigation is not to the liking of the petitioner, baseless and reckless allegations have been made.”

The State had also ordered a judicial probe and appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by former High Court Judge Justice Keshavanarayan. “It has commenced its functions and inquiry is going on at full speed and the report from the Commission is expected very shortly,” the State told the Supreme Court.

It also contended that the petitioners did not point out any lapse by the investigating agency before the trial court. But just two days before the filing of the investigation report, they had approached the High Court. The State has sought a direction to dismiss the petition filed by Kushalappa.