BSY demands probe into officer’s death

[1]

In an effort to embarrass Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and his senior colleagues, former chief minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Monday shot off a letter to home minister, R. Ashok, demanding a high-level probe into the death of senior KAS officer S.P. Mahantesh, and the real estate deals which were investigated by the slain officer.

In his letter, Mr Yeddyurappa said “It is quite possible that he might have been killed because he took a tough stand against housing co-operative societies.” He pointed out that the slain official had adopted a tough stand against the real estate mafia and fake currency mafia, too, in recent years.

“It is clear indication that spiralling real estate prices are directly linked to these mafias as they play a big role in skyrocketing land prices in and around the city,” the letter stated. The former chief minister’s letter to the home minister came within hours of Mr Sadananda Gowda ruling out a CID probe into the death of the senior KAS officer and deputy director of Cooperative Societies Audit Department. Mr Gowda told media persons in Bengaluru that the city police had secured vital clues, and would crack the case in a couple of days. The leader also appealed to the state government to release adequate ex-gratia to the next of kin of Mr Mahantesh.