KJ George takes oath as Karnataka minister after CID's clean chit in Ganapathy case

Former Karnataka minister KJ George was re-inducted into the Siddaramaiah government in a rather quiet ceremony today.

George, who was recently given a clean chit by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in the Deputy SP Ganapathy suicide case, took the oath of office as a Cabinet-rank minister at the Raj Bhavan.

Talking to mediapersons after the swearing-in, George said "truth prevails".

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George was earlier handling the Bengaluru development and town planning ministry, and if sources are to be believed he is likely to get back the portfolio.

With this appointment, the Siddaramaiah government has now reached its maximum strength of 34 ministers.

WANT CBI PROBE

Not satisfied with the CID probe, the family of police officer MK Ganapathy is now demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the case. The Opposition too has been putting pressure on the state government to hand over the probe to the CBI.

"When the state handed over the investigation to the CID, we knew the investigation would not be fair. We are demanding a CBI inquiry, and will not rest till that happens," said G Madhusudhan, the BJP spokesperson in Karnataka.

THE CASE

George had resigned from the government on July 18, soon after a court in Madikeri, Kodagu district, directed the police to register an FIR against him and two police officers in connection with the suicide of 51-year-old Ganapathy.

The minister was accused of mentally harassing the officer and allegedly abetting his suicide. In a video message, Ganapathy had blamed KJ George and two senior IPS officers AM Prasad and Pronab Mohanty for pushing him to take the extreme step.

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