No political motive behind CBI probe in Nagappa case: Minister

BANGALORE: Karnataka Government has denied any political motive behind its decision to seek a CBI probe into the killing of former minister H Nagappa who had been abducted by forest bandit Veerappan.

The decision was taken to 'unravel' the truth as to who were responsible for the heinous act, Minister for Kannada and Culture HS Mahadeva Prasad said on Saturday.

"The people of the state and family members of Nagappa have the right to know who killed Nagappa. Whether it is Veerappan or STF of Tamil Nadu", Mahadeva said while strongly defending the Cabinet's decision to request for a CBI probe.

The JDU leader was kidnapped by the forest brigand on August 25, 2002 from his Hanur farm house near Kollegal in Chamarajnagar district and his bullet-ridden body was recovered from MM Hills area on December 8.

The RG Vaidyanathan Inquiry Commission in its report suggested the government to seek a CBI probe as the case involved two states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

On queries about the utility of such a probe at this stage when Veerappan and his associates have been killed, Prasad said, "It is only to bring out the truth who killed Nagappa and not to link mega star Rajkumar's kidnap incident into the probe."

The government has decided to dismiss the Police Inspector who did not act when Nagappa was being kidnapped in a bus on the fateful day, he said.

As per the recommendation of the Inquiry Commission, a monitoring cell was also being set up in the Intelligence wing, he added.