Bengaluru: Former Karnataka director general and inspector general of police Om Prakash was found dead in the living room of his home in Bengaluru’s HSR Layout Sunday. His wife, among others, has been detained for questioning, it is learnt.
The 68-year-old was a 1981 batch IPS officer who became the state’s top police officer in February 2015.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda said Om Prakash was found lying in a pool of blood. “(His) wife was there in the house and daughter was on the top floor,” Dayananda told ThePrint Sunday evening.
Visuals from around his home showed the police commissioner and incumbent DGP, Alok Mohan, among others present.
The incident is said to have taken place around 4-4.30 pm Sunday.
Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Vikash Kumar told reporters an FIR will be registered soon.
He added that no arrests have been made so far but the police have retrieved a sharp weapon, though they are yet to ascertain whether it was used in the suspected murder.
The police commissioner said there were multiple injuries on the former DGP’s body. Prakash was taken to St John’s Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Whether he was being subjected to threats is being investigated.
Om Prakash was from Champaran, Bihar. His death has sparked a political row with opposition parties targeting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.
“Former Karnataka DGP Om Prakash (was) murdered in Bengaluru. Imagine the extent of lawlessness under the Congress,” Amit Malviya, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell posted on X.
ThePrint reached Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara for comment. This report will be updated if he responds.