K'taka CM rejects demand for minister's resignation after CBI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today rejected the BJP's demand for resignation of minister K J George, booked by CBI over the mysterious death of a police official, saying it was "totally politically motivated".
Strongly backing George a day after the CBI filed the FIR, he said there was "no case warranting resignation" and the minister would cooperate in the investigation by the central agency which took over the case after the Supreme Court directive.
Speaking to reporters after discussing the issue with senior ministers and party leaders, Siddaramaiah also said as the CBI was under the central government, there was no question of influencing it if George remained a minister.

Also raising questions about the CBI and its investigation, he alleged that the BJP was using the agency as a "political tool".
The body of Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7 last year.
Prior to this, he gave an interview to a local TV channel, saying the then home minister George and twosenior police officers A M Prasad and Pranov Mohanty would be responsible "if anything happens to me".

The state CID investigated the case and gave a clean chit to George and the two officers in its 'B' (closure) report filed before a court in Madikeri.

George had resigned soon after a court directed police to register an FIR against him and two police officers.
After his name was cleared by CID, George was re-inducted into the cabinet.
The Supreme Court in September allowed the appeal of M K Kushalappa, father of the deceased police officer, filed against the order of the Karnataka High Court, rejecting his plea for a CBI probe into the death case.
Besides George, former IGP (Lokayukta) Mohanty and former ADG of police (state intelligence) Prasad have also been named in the CBI FIR.
Siddaramaiah also sought to turn the tables on the BJP, saying 11 central ministers were facing "serious" criminal cases and added, "Let them also resign. Why should they continue?"

Stating that mere filing of an FIR was not the proof of the charges against a person, Siddaramaiah claimed 20 central ministers had declared pending criminal cases against themselves.
He said while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had "serious charges of attempt to murder and rioting" against him, state BJP President B S Yeddyurappa faced "charges related to cheating and dishonesty".
"Opposition BJP is demanding George's resignation. There is no reason for George to resign, because based on the FIR filed at the Kushalnagara police station, CID has thoroughly investigated and submitted a B report," Siddaramaiah said.
Pointing out that George had resigned as soon as the FIR was filed against him earlier, he said since the CBI's FIR was a continuation of what was already filed in the police station, "there is no necessity or it warrants Mr George to resign in this case".

Calling the BJP's demand for George's resignation as "totally politically motivated", Siddaramaiah said it is being made with an intention for political gain by "tarnishing" the image of the minister and the state government.
"This type of attitude by the BJP is only with an intention for political gain, since election is fast approaching (due early next year). We have decided to meet them politically," he said.
With the CBI filing FIR, the BJP has upped its ante against George and Yeddyurappa has warned of a statewide protest if he did not step down.
Yeddyurappa had yesterday demanded resignation of George and said the state BJP would stage a protest against him if he did not quit.

"Since the CBI has named George as the first accused (in the case), I demand his resignation immediately," he had said.