Bangalore: In an attempt to take wind out of the sails of Opposition parties,
Karnataka government on December 16 decided to order a judicial probe to unravel the
mystery shrouding the death of Janata Dal – United (JD-U) leader H Nagappa while
being held hostage by forest brigand Veerappan.
The state Cabinet decided to order the judicial probe headed by a High Court judge,
Minister for Information Kagodu Thimmappa told reporters.
The government would soon draft the terms of reference for the probe and the High
Court would decide on whether the enquiry would be headed by a sitting or retired
judge, Thimmappa said.
The decision to conduct the judicial probe comes a week ahead of the Legislature
session called from December 23 to discuss the 106-day-old Nagappa abduction crisis
and his killing in mysterious circumstances.
The Opposition parties and the family members of slain Nagappa have been demanding
the government to refer the issue to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe,
which has been turned down by the state.
Thimmappa said the decision of the government to order judicial probe would not
deter the Opposition from debating the Nagappa issue on the floors of
Legislatures.
Thimmappa said government decided to institute judicial probe to get at the truth
behind the death of Nagappa in the wake of suspicion expressed by political parties
and public into the causes of the former minister's killing.
When pointed out that it was an "unprecedented decision" by the government to order
judicial probe into a case of murder, he said, "It would bring to light the truth
and there is no need for CBI investigation."
The police has registered a case of murder under section 304 of Indian Penal Code
(IPC) into the death of Nagappa.
PTI
