Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has called for a high-level investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the recent fatal shooting incident in Ballari. He made this demand during a press conference on Monday, leveling serious allegations against the ruling Congress government in Karnataka.
Allegations of Illegal Double Postmortem
Kumaraswamy presented a major point of contention, claiming that the body of the victim, Rajashekhar, was subjected to an autopsy not once, but twice. He asserted that this act was illegal. The minister alleged that the first postmortem report's findings were not favorable to the Congress party, which led the state government to order a second examination. "His body was autopsied twice, violating laws," Kumaraswamy stated.
He demanded that the details of the initial autopsy report be made public immediately. Furthermore, he insisted that the people have a right to know who exerted pressure to conduct the second postmortem, seeking a clear explanation from the government for this unusual procedure.
Questions Over Ex-Gratia and Probe Impartiality
The Janata Dal (Secular) leader also sharply criticized the government's decision to provide Rs 25 lakh in cash as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased. He pointed out that such a large cash payment violates established income tax rules. Kumaraswamy demanded clarity on the source of these funds, questioning whether the money came from the state exchequer or a private individual.
Expressing a lack of faith in a state-level inquiry, Kumaraswamy argued that a probe commissioned by Karnataka would not uncover the truth. He claimed that both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar would shield Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy. According to the minister's version of events, the fatal shot was fired by the gunman of Satish Reddy, who he described as a henchman of Bharath.
Selective Suspensions and Law & Order Debate
Kumaraswamy further accused the government of applying inconsistent standards in disciplinary actions. He questioned why only Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjur was suspended, while no action was taken against the Additional SP and the IGP. He drew a comparison to the recent KSCA stampede case, where several senior officers were suspended, asking why the same norm was not applied in Ballari.
The Union Minister also refuted Deputy CM Shivakumar's earlier accusation that law and order in Ballari deteriorated after Gangavathi MLA G Janardhan Reddy was permitted to enter the district. Kumaraswamy countered this by claiming that no major incident was reported in the 18 months following Reddy's return to the district.
In his concluding remarks, Kumaraswamy reiterated his central allegation, stating, "The Congress government is trying to hush up the case as the victim was a member of the party." He maintained that only a CBI investigation could ensure a fair and transparent outcome in this sensitive case.
