Bengaluru/Mysuru/Madikeri: The probe into DSP MK Ganapathi's death took an intriguing turn on Saturday with his father claiming he was forced by the police to sign a letter which read that his son faced some marital problems and was reeling under depression.

Ganapathi's father Madapanda Kushalappa told reporters in Madikeri on Saturday: "I did not write any letter stating my son was under depression, I didn't even complain against my daughter-in-law Pavana.But police have claimed otherwise. They (cops) had prepared a written statement and told me to sign it before handing over my son's body, I only signed it and didn't know what was written."

His brother MK Thammaiah, DSP in Ramanagara, had also given a statement that his brother was under medication for depression.

Kushalappa's statement debunks the claims of the police top brass that Ganapathi faced personal problems and not any professional issues. Kushalappa said his son was upset with the happenings in the police department, but had not specified the magnitude of the problems he faced.

Ganapathi's second brother MK Machaiah said his father's statement to the police on the day of the incident was given out of shock.

Meanwhile, the CID team led by IG Hemanth Nimbalkar and SP Kumaraswamy visited Ganapathi's house and gathered information from the family members.

Haunting encounter: Autodriver

Autorickshaw driver Dinesh MV (in pic), who had ferried DSP Ganapathi from Vinayaka Lodge to a local TV channel office and viceversa on that fateful day, says the officer's face is "haunting" him.

"I was shocked to hear the officer who had travelled in my auto earlier in the day was found dead in the hotel under strange circumstances late in the evening,'' Dinesh said. A native of Monnangere village, 10km from Madikeri, Dinesh, 27, said he learnt of the incident through TV news. "Now every person I ferry in my autorickshaw, I feel the presence of Ganapathi,'' he added. Dinesh was at the Madikeri bus stand, waiting in a queue, when Ganapathi arrived at the stand at 11am."The officer was in uniform and asked me to take him to the news channel office, which is 500m from the KSRTC bus stand. After alighting at the office, the officer asked me to wait for him till he returned, promising to pay me waiting charges. I agreed and waited for nearly two hours," he said.

Dinesh said it was 1.30pm when Ganapathi emerged from the office.After he dropped him at the lodge, Ganapathi paid him Rs 200 and asked whether he needed to pay more, to which Dinesh replied, "It's enough, Sir." Dinesh was stunned to return home late evening and hear he was dead. Dinesh was summoned by the CID sleuths for an inquiry on Saturday.



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