It’s the go to agency for all sensational and politically sensitive cases, whether they involve religious gurus like Nithyananda and Ragheshwar Swami or senior IPS officers like ADGP Ravindranath and IGP Ramchandra Rao. The suicide of DySP, M K Ganapati, which has become a Damocles sword hanging over the heads of minister K J George and some senior police officers, is only the latest to be handed over to it for investigation.
The agency is also looking into the alleged rape of former IAS officer, Chinranjeevi Singh’s daughter, the assassination of noted writer, M.M. Kalburgi, the recent PU paper leak and the suicide of deputy superintendent of police Kallappa Handibag - all high profile cases, which the jurisdictional police was considered ill qualified to deal with.
“All the cases, which are under investigation by the CID, are complex and sensitive. From the criminal cases to the suicides of police officers, each is as important as the other. The agency has a huge responsibility to do a free and fair investigation in all these cases and take them to their logical end,” noted an officer, adding that the nature of work required aptitude and investigation skills.”
The CID is set up for the sole purpose of investigating controversial cases where the local police are unable to take their own decision and if investigations are likely to be influenced by local factors
— Shankar M. Bidari, Former top cop
“The Ganapati case is a challenge for the CID because the victim and the accused are their own men in khaki and involves their former political boss, Bengaluru Development Minister, K.J. George. The case is challenging not only because the future of the government may rest on its outcome, but also because the investigation requires state-of-the-art technology to carry out hi-tech video and digital forensic analysis of the interview Ganapati gave to a local TV channel before he ended his life. It seems to be a longer interview than what has been telecast. It will require skilled investigation, but unfortunately, none of the forensic laboratories in the country are equipped to do a video and digital forensic audit and analysis,” observed another officer.
Headed by an officer of the rank of director general of police, the CID has units dealing with economic offences, homicide and burglary, human trafficking, counterfeit cases, narcotics and special inquiries, besides an arms squad and cyber crime division. But the question is does it have enough staff and equipment to deal with the number of cases it is constantly dumped with.
While the many vacancies in the agency were recently filled, it could do with some expansion to handle the volume of cases currently before it, believe insiders. Most of its officers are considered efficient as they are among those who refuse to “fit in” with the system with its many demands on a policeman’s integrity. While some of these less pliable officers prefer to be posted to it, others are transferred to the agency as a “punishment” for failing to toe the official line, according to sources. “Those who don’t give in to the system’s demands often prefer working here,” said an officer.
But the agency clearly needs some respite from the many high profile cases it is handling if it is to do justice to all of them, say others familiar with its working. Its other requirement would be more sophisticated equipment to help it in its investigation, they add.
A glimpse of the cases dumped on the CID
Swami Nithyananda Case
In March 2010 the Bidadi police registered a case of rape and criminal conspiracy against self-styled godman, Swami Nithyananda on the basis of a video released to the media. After evading summons for 49 days, he was arrested in April 2010 from Himachal Pradesh by the city police and interrogated by the CID in Bengaluru. In June 2010, Nityananda was released on bail from the Ramanagara prison and underwent a potency test in September 2014. The case is still under investigation by the CID.
Mallikarjun Bande
The CID took over the case of Mallikarjun Bande in January 8, 2014, after the slain police sub-inspector’s wife alleged he had been shot dead by a police gun and not by contract killer and sharp shooter, Munna Darbar as claimed. She maintained the gangster had no gun on him when Bande tried to arrest him. Although two years have passed and the PSI’s wife, Mallamma, died recently of a brain tumour, no one has been chargesheeted yet in the case.
Kerala bound bus robbery involving an IGP
The CID, which investigated the alleged role of an IGP-ranked police officer in a Rs 2.26 crore robbery on a Kerala bound bus near Mysuru in January 2014 , submitted its final report in June 2015 to DG-IGP Om Prakash. Although it is said to have found some lapses on the part of the IGP ranked officer, Dr K Ramachandra Rao, it did not directly indict him, according to sources.
Godman Raghaveshwara Bharathi
The CID investigating a case of rape against another self-styled godman, Raghaveshwara Bharathi and his devotee, has filed a chargesheet in one case and is still looking into the other.
Mysuru rape case
Investigation continues into the alleged rape of former IAS officer, Chiranjeevi Singh’s daughter by her brother-in-law in Mysuru. A case was registered in April 2015 against her husband’s family, which owns a reputed hospital in Mysuru.
IAS officer, DK Ravi’s suicide
The suicide of IAS officer, DK Ravi, who took on the sand mafia, was investigated by the CID initially but later handed over to the CBI following protests and demands by opposition parties.
Rationalist M. M. Kalaburgi’s murder
There has been no significant breakthrough in the shooting of rationalist M M Kalaburgi on August 30, 2014 at his house in Dharwad.
PU question paper leak
In March 21, 2016, over 1.74 lakh students, who wrote their Chemistry exam, were disappointed to learn that it had been cancelled because of a question paper leak. A re-examination scheduled for March 31 was also cancelled after that question paper too was leaked. Under pressure from protesting PU students and their parents, the government handed over the case to the CID, which arrested the alleged kingpin of the racket, Shivakumaraiah, and several teachers across the city. The case is still under investigation.
DySP Kallappa Handibag’s suicide
The CID investigating the kidnapping and extortion case against DySP Kallappa Handibag is now looking into the antecedents of the man who made the allegations against him.
DySP MK Ganapathi’s suicide
The latest case to be handed over to the agency is the suicide of DySP MK Ganapati, who accused minister K.J. George, and police officers, Pranab Mohanty and AM Prasad of harassment in a |television interview before ending his life.
