Police top brass order departmental inquiry

A departmental inquiry has been ordered against K G Nagar inspector, C D Nagaraj, who allegedly tortured cab driver Pradeep Kumar Eeranna in police custody, driving him to suicide.

“A departmental inquiry has been ordered against C D Nagaraj. Disciplinary action will be taken based on recommendations of the report,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar said on Sunday.

A mob had gone on a rampage in Lakshmipura under Kempegowda Nagar police station limits on Saturday night, protesting the death of Pradeep who had hanged himself at his home. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. There was no untoward incident on Sunday.

In the morning, Alok Kumar visited KG Nagar police station and looked into the complaint by the woman who had accused Pradeep of misbehaving with her.

 Pradeep’s body was taken directly to the burial ground near the TR Mill in Chamarajpet after a post-mortem at the Victoria Hospital. Scores of his friends and relatives raised anti-police slogans as the body was laid to rest. Pradeep was badly tortured in custody and there were bruises all over his body, his friend Bhargav claimed. Alok Kumar said they would wait for the post-mortem report.

Compensation demanded

The Indian Vehicle Drivers’ Trade Union has demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Pradeep’s family, besides dismissal of Nagaraj from service.

Demanding a high-level probe into Nagaraj’s conduct, they claimed he was involved in more than 20 cases of atrocity. A memorandum would be submitted to Home Minister K J George and City Police Commissioner M N Reddi, said the Union president Dr Gandasi Sadananda Swamy.