BJP Demands CBI Probe into Vinay Somaiah’s Death, Alleges Political Cover-Up

After meeting Vinay's family, Opposition leaders R. Ashoka slammed the FIR for excluding CM’s legal advisor A.S. Ponnanna and Congress MLA Dr. Manthar Gowda.

Bengaluru: Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged suicide of party worker Vinay Somaiah from Kodagu, accusing the police of deliberately omitting key names from the FIR.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Vinay's grieving family at a Bengaluru hospital, Opposition leaders R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy expressed outrage over the exclusion of Chief Minister’s legal advisor A.S. Ponnanna and Congress MLA Dr. Manthar Gowda from the FIR. They vowed to continue the party’s agitation until both leaders are named in the case.

Referring to a purported death note left behind by Somaiah, Narayanaswamy said it is standard procedure to include individuals named in such notes in the FIR. “However, due to political pressure from the ruling Congress, Ponnanna and Manthar Gowda’s names have been omitted,” he alleged.

BJP leader C.N. Ashwath Narayan echoed these sentiments, accusing the police of attempting to exonerate the two Congress MLAs from the outset. Supporting this claim, Ashoka alleged that police stations under Home Minister G. Parameshwara have effectively turned into Congress party offices. “This is why the case must be handed over to the CBI for an unbiased investigation,” he said.

Ashoka further claimed that Vinay, a highly educated individual, had been subjected to continuous harassment over the past few months by Congress leaders and their close aide Thennira Maina, allegedly through the Kodagu SP. Even after relocating to Bengaluru, Vinay reportedly continued to face pressure from the police.

He accused the Congress government of misusing the police force to pursue political vendettas. “One officer, a recipient of the Chief Minister’s medal, is absconding after a Lokayukta raid. Action must be taken against all those responsible for Vinay’s death. The Kodagu Superintendent of Police must be suspended immediately,” Ashoka demanded, adding that further steps would be decided in consultation with state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra.

To advertise on The Kodagu Express website, kindly call us at 9108795369 or mail us at thekodaguexpress@gmail.com 

Join The Kodagu Express WhatsApp Group: CLICK HERE 

Follow us on Instagram and X(Twitter)