Bangalore:
The Karnataka High Court has taken suo moto cognisance and initiated a public interest litigation regarding the the brutal attack on S.P. Mahantesh, the Deputy Director of Cooperative Audit Department who died on May 20.
A notice has now been sent to the Principal Secretary of the Home Department and the Bangalore City Police Commissioner who have been directed to file a progress report at least a day before the next hearing of the case on June 21st.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna said "keeping all the dimensions of the death of Mr. Mahantesh in perspective, we exercise suo motu power."
Mr Mahantesh was found unconscious on May 15, near a hotel in Bangalore. He succumbed to his injuries, five days later. The official was working as Deputy Director of the Audit wing in the state's Cooperative department and had reported irregularities in different societies involving officials and politicians. There are allegations that this may be the reason for the attack on him.