JOIN USHundreds of policemen belonging to four battalions of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and their family members took to streets in Koramangala on Wednesday seeking justice for Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) P Ravindranath, who is accused of clicking pictures of a woman on his mobile phone at a coffee shop on Cunningham road.
Traffic came to a halt in Koramangala and surrounding areas for over four hours and scores of vehicles were stranded as the protesters blocked the road near Krupanidhi College junction. They burnt tyres on the road and also stoned a police vehicle.
They demanded that Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar come to the spot and apologise for the manner in which Ravindranath was treated at the High Grounds police station on Monday. They raised slogans against Auradkar and DCP (Central) B R Ravikanthe Gowda. On Tuesday, Ravindranath had accused Auradkar of hatching a conspiracy to defame him.
Senior IPS officers from City police and KSRP rushed to the spot and tried to convince the protesters to call off the strike. After conciliatory meetings and threats that they would face departmental action, most of the protesting policemen dispersed around 10:30 pm.
Earlier in the day, Ravindranath went to Auradkar’s office and demanded that he be arrested immediately as an FIR has been registered. However, Auradkar asked him to meet the officer investigating the case. There was a heated exchange of words between the two senior IPS officers, sources said.
Govt orders CID probe, transfers ADGP
The State government on Wednesday night ordered a probe by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the episode and also transferred Ravindranath from the post of ADGP, Karnataka State Reserve Police, without giving him any posting. He has been asked to report to the office of DG and IGP. N S Megharik, ADGP (Crimes and Technical Services) has been given the additional charge of KSRP. Home Minister K J George said the CID would conduct a “unbiased probe” into the matter. The government will not accept Ravindrnath’s resignation, he added.
Ravindranath alleged that Auradkar treated him as an “untouchable” as he is a Dalit.
Later, Ravindranath visited the KSRP grounds in Koramangala where KSRP staff had gathered to express their solidarity with him. They requested him to withdraw his resignation. Ravindranath could not hold back his tears.