Thorough probe sought into RTI activist’s death

SP Mahantesh, a senior Karnataka government officer and a whistle blower had to pay with his life for exposing scams in housing cooperative societies.

 

Mahantesh was working as a deputy director of the audit wing of the Karnataka’s cooperative department.

 

He passed away in the wee hours on Sunday at a private hospital in Bangalore where he was being treated for the grievous injuries he had suffered in a murderous attack by unidentified men on Tuesday night.

 

48-year-old Mahantesh was on life support for last two days. He is survived by his wife, two children and parents.

 

Mahantesh, who was known as a honest police officer of the department, had reported irregularities in the societies involving some senior officials and politicians.

 

His colleagues said Mahantesh was under pressure for exposing irrgularities in various societies but. “His death has come as a shock to us, we never thought he would be killed,” they said.

 

However, no arrest has been made in the case so far. Police is still struggling for the vital clues. The officials have not been able to find even a single witness in the case.

 

DCP Ravi Kanth Gowda said four special teams have been constituted to solve the case at the earliest.

 

When the chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda visited his home to offer his condolences, Mahantesh’s family members told him that he had no personal enmity with any one and they are sure that Mahantesh was killed for exposing scams in various societies.

 

However, state government has not announced any compensation for the grieving family yet.

 

This is the second attack on a state government official over the past two weeks. On May 6 an assistant conservator of forest, Madan Naik was attacked by tourists when he asketd them not to feed crocodiles. Naik too had succumbed to injuries.