Bengaluru, DHNS: Parameshwara gives George a clean chit, says his party promoted cop. Home Minister G Parameshwara tried to turn the tables on the BJP by saying that police officer M?K?Ganapathi faced an enquiry in the 2011 encounter case when the BJP was in power.

Parameshwara said on Saturday that the Yeshwantpur encounter in which a rowdy was killed, took place in 2011. An enquiry was ordered by the then BJP government. “The officer had probably come under pressure from the BJP. Why blame the Congress which has been in power only for the last three years?” he asked.

Deputy superintendent of police Ganapathi had hanged himself in Madikeri on Thursday after blaming Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and two senior police officers.

Parameshwara said it was the Congress government which promoted Ganapathi six months ago. He was given a non-executive post in keeping with the rules of the police department.

“We helped him only after the departmental enquiry was completed. We fail to understand why the Opposition parties are blaming us for the officer’s death,” he said.

According to Ganapathi’s service records, he was under suspension from March 10, 2014 to April 10, 2014. He was a police inspector at Yeshwantpur station in Bengaluru from August 26, 2009 to November 12, 2011. He was promoted as DySP on April 13, 2016.

Asked whether it would not be easy for investigating officers to probe the suicide case if George resigns, the home minister said prima facie there is no evidence to establish George’s involvement. “Just because the late officer has named George or someone, we cannot conclude that they are responsible for the incident. We had not denied promotion or withheld his salary. He was not facing financial problems. The Criminal Investigation Department has begun the probe. Let us wait for the report,” he said.

Parameshwara said Ganapathi had not left any note before committing suicide at the hotel. The police have found a torn medical prescription. He was under medication, he said. “The CID will go through his e-mails, WhatsApp messages, telephone conversations etc. There could be many angles to the case. Maybe he was facing personal problems,” he added.

Asked whether counselling sessions would be held for police personnel to handle pressure, the minister said, “We can conduct counselling sessions. I am aware that the police are under pressure because of staff shortage. The recruitments are on.”