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Bhubaneswar/Bengaluru: Karnataka-cadre Odia IPS officer Pranab Mohanty is in the dock after being accused of mentally harassing deputy superintendent of police (DSP) M K Ganapathi, who committed suicide last week.
In an interview to a TV channel before committing suicide on July 7 in Bengaluru, Ganapathi had charged minister K J George and two senior IPS officers--Pranab Mohanty and AM Prasad - with subjecting him to mental torture and harassment.
Ganapathi had said that the trio would be responsible for anything that might occur to him.
Since Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has now ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the suicide case and a PIL has been filed in the Karnataka High Court demanding an FIR against George, Mohanty and Prasad in relation to the case, Mohanty could face administrative action, if found guilty.
The PIL by lawyers argued that since the deceased had voluntarily visited three media channels and the interview was aired and published in different newspapers, his statement should be counted as evidence under section 32 (1) of the Evidence Act.
Sources said the petition, if allowed, will lead to an investigation as per law and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in investigation of cognisable offences.
Facing flak from various quarters and giving in to the pressure from Opposition BJP and JD (S), Siddaramaiah has also announced the formation of a one-member judicial commission, headed by a retired high court judge, who will complete the inquiry in six months.
The commission will inquire into incidents leading to Ganapthi's suicide and the role of George the two IPS officers, who the deceased officer had accused of harassing him.
