Karnataka - Bangalore

Inquiry panel submits report

Staff Reporter

Vaidyanatha Commission looked into death of the former Minister H. Nagappa

BANGALORE: R.G. Vaidyanatha, who headed the judicial commission that inquired into the circumstances leading to the death of the former Minister H. Nagappa after his abduction by Veerappan, submitted his report to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday.

Accepting the 132-page report, Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons that the Government would take suitable action based on the report. "This Government will go through the report, which has been submitted in a record period (three years and four months). The Government will take necessary legal action," he said.

When asked whether the action will be taken within the stipulated six-month period, he replied, "Let's see, let's see... we will not allow the report to suffer the same fate as those of some earlier inquiry commissions."

According to Commission of Inquiry Act, the Government has to submit to the legislature an action taken report within six months from the date of submission of the report and make it public.

Mr. Vaidyanatha expressed hope that the State Government would act on his report.

Refusing to divulge details of the report, Mr. Vaidyanatha said, "I have told the Chief Minister about the record time taken in giving the report. I hope this Government will take action."

He expressed his gratitude to the State Government machinery for its cooperation in conducting the inquiry. The Government issued a notification constituting the Commission of Inquiry on December 31, 2002.

The commission was asked to find out how and why the security system failed leading to the abduction of Nagappa by Veerappan from his residence in Kamagere on August 25, 2002. Nagappa was provided with `Y' category security.

The Commission received 103 affidavits and examined 52 officials during the inquiry.

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