All the CM's men

...u00a0are investigating wife's death, accuse observers

The officials investigating the death of B S Yeddyurappa's wife are the chief minister's own men, say observers, including former chief minister S Bangarappa.

Shimoga's top brass including the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, additional superintendent of police and deputy superintendent of police were posted there by the CM himself, says a source. "All are his men and they act as he directs," he said.

Loyal officials?

While top cop S Murugan was not displaced, the DC, ASP, SP and DySp were part of the transfer spree the state witnessed after Yeddyurappa took over as chief minister.u00a0

Pankaj Kumar Pandey, who was the Gulbarga deputy commissioner, was transferred to Shimoga last July. ASP Kunigal Srikanth, who has been entrusted with the case, was recently transferred here along with DySP Shekarappa.

This has dampened the pace of inquiry into the death of Yeddyurappa's wife, Mytradevi.

"All top officials investigating the case work under the state government's directive. And the government is run by the CM," said Bangarappa. "We don't have any hope of this team cracking the case as they work under the CM. It has to be handed over to the CBI," he said.

Way out

Petitioner S Seshadri, on the other hand, is exploring other options. "If the inquiry is delayed, I may move the high court," he said. "Moving court and seeking re-inquiry by the CBI is an option."

But officials say nothing's amiss as far as the investigations go. "The inquiry will be free and fair," said Kunigal Srikanth. "It will not get affected by interference."u00a0