KAS officer S.P. Mahantesh, who died on Sunday after an attack by an unknown gang, was involved in an incident near Bannerghatta four months ago. Though it was initially thought to be an attempt on his life to stop him from investigating an illegal housing society scam, the police now say it was a traffic accident related scuffle, involving Mr Mahantesh. The officer had dashed against a two-wheeler and the rider was involved in a fight with him, the police said.
But the curious fact is that the officer was with three others in his private car, two of them women, when the accident occurred, police officers investigating the case said. “One of these women, aged between 22 and 24, is suspected to be Mr Mahantesh’s girlfriend. She has told police officers that she bought residential plots in various housing societies around the city with the help of Mr Mahantesh, who was the deputy director of Cooperative Societies Audit Department. We also have the woman’s mobile phone which has videos of Mr Mahantesh and the woman in a compromising position,” they added.
“We have also learnt that on the night of May 15, Mr Mahantesh was involved in an argument with the culprits for nearly 15 minutes before he was attacked near Atria Hotel. They have used bamboo sticks. It is possible that the sticks were found in the vicinity and the intention may not be to kill him,” the officer said. “Four people have been rounded up in the case. They are not the culprits, but only abettors in the crime. Those who executed the attack are yet to be arrested,” the officer said. When asked whether a woman angle is being pursued, Police Commissioner Jyothiprakash Mirji on Tuesday said that the case is being probed thoroughly.