Mahantesh, whistle-blower, dies-India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Five days after he was allegedly attacked, a Karnataka Administrative Officer, said to be a whistle-blower in some controversial land allotments by societies, died at a private hospital here on Sunday. S P Mahantesh, whose condition had turned critical on Saturday, died following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said. “Mahantesh heart stopped (beating) at 5.30 a.m. We tried our best to revive him, but failed,” said a doctor, who refused to be named. Mahantesh, 48, who suffered head injuries in the alleged attack by unidentified persons on May 15, had been on life support system for the last two days. He was found unconscious near a hotel here, and was said to be returning home in his car at the time of the attack. He was shifted to the hospital after a passerby noticed him and informed his family. Mahantesh was known for his integrity, and was working as Deputy Director of the Audit wing in the state’s cooperative department. He had reported irregularities in different societies involving some officials and political figures. Police have formed a special team to track down the culprits, but are so far clueless. This is the second death of a state government official. It follws the murder of Assistant Conservator of Forest, Madan Naik in Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district on May 6. Naik was attacked by tourists when he objected to them feeding crocodiles at a private resort. The government has ordered CID probe into Naik's death. Police have arrested six persons in connection with that crime.

Karnataka whistle-blowing officer succumbs to injuries in Bangalore hospital