ADGP-rank IPS officer also instrumental in arrest of Mahesh Thimarodi

Bengaluru 

A highly placed source in the State government informed blrpost.com that an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-rank IPS officer also played a key role in the arrest of Sowjanya activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi. This ADGP-rank officer was grilled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2019–2020 in connection with a high-profile case in Karnataka.

After the arrest, local court sent Thimarodi to 14-day judicial custody and his advocates have now moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIR. The advocates will also seek stay on the order of the local court.

Sources in the government said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was not keen on the arrest, but multiple forces, including this ADGP, were instrumental in pushing it forward to build a counter-narrative in the Dharmasthala mass burial case. On the other hand, sources in the Sangh Parivar said everything seems to be going according to the activists’ plan, and the arrest was expected. The arrest, they added, will help the Sowjanya activist catapult to state-level fame as he expands his support base on the ground. The top leadership of the RSS is also closely monitoring media narratives.

Sources in the Home Ministry said the ADGP officer who allegedly engineered the arrest has close links with the suspects in the mass burial case. However, what many do not know is that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been carrying out a “reverse investigation” simultaneously ever since the probe commenced. During the pause in the investigation, the SIT is now examining the Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and missing-case documents. The team is also grilling witness-complainant Bheema.

The sources said this ADGP officer, accused in multiple high-profile cases, is considered brilliant at devising plans and cover-ups. The officer also known for making low-rank IPS officers pawns or scapegoats in such plans. Meanwhile, the Udupi police booked other activists, allegedly to suppress voices.

It may be recalled that the government formed the SIT on July 19, after witness-complainant Bheema registered a complaint at Dharmasthala police station on July 3. Home Minister G. Parameshwara, speaking in the Assembly a few days ago, said the government is committed to bringing out the truth.