Cabinet not for action against IPS officer

The Cabinet on Thursday rejected any action to be initiated against Lokayukta Deputy Inspector General of Police Arun Chakravarthy in an inquiry held by the Lokayukta Vigilance Director pertaining to a case when he was the Superintendent of Police of Shimoga.

The Lokayukta had conducted an inquiry against him following an allegation that he had refused to register a case of murder when a woman, Shubhada, died under mysterious circumstances. After investigations, the Lokayukta Vigilance Director M D Singh had submitted a report stating that action should be initiated against all officers including Arun Chakravarthy for failing to register a case of murder.

However, the Cabinet did not accept the recommendations as it was felt that the SP could not be held responsible for the actions of a sub inspector. Shubhada’s death was registered as an unnatural death by the local police station and despite the insistence of her parents, it was never investigated for murder.

Meanwhile, Arun Chakravarthy was transferred out of Shimoga and later evidence emerged that Shubhada had been murdered to claim insurance. The police then registered a case of murder and action was taken against the sub inspector for failing to register a case of murder.

Sources in the government stated that the Cabinet did not find any direct connection between the actions of the sub inspector and the SP. “The SP’s jurisdiction is vast and he cannot be held responsible for the actions of one station house officer,” an official present during the Cabinet deliberations stated.