G Parameshwara
Credit: DH File Photo
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said the government would not be lenient on those demanding bribes in any department, including the Police Department, and asserted that strict action was being taken.
He was reacting to the allegations made by retired chief financial officer of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Sivakumar K that he was forced to pay bribes at every stage — for an ambulance, filing an FIR, at the crematorium and also for the issuance of the death certificate, after his daughter passed away.
Narrating the harassment he had to face after his 34-year-old daughter died from a brain haemorrhage in September, Sivakumar, in a now-deleted post on LinkedIn, had alleged that he had to pay a bribe even to file an FIR. He also said that an "inspector at the Bellandur police station was so rude, with no empathy for a father who lost his only child."
Following this, a police sub-inspector and a police constable attached to the Bellandur police station were suspended on Thursday, pending an inquiry.
"We never encourage bribery in any manner. That is why we take action soon after getting the information, suspend those facing the allegation and initiate a departmental inquiry. We pursue the matter to the extent that when the charge is proved, we dismiss them from service," Parameshwara told reporters.
The Home Minister said he and even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had given standing instruction to the authorities to take a tough stand against bribery.