Dalit ministers take up ADGP's 'cause' with CM

Three ministers—H Anjaneya, H C Mahadevappa and V Srinivas Prasad—have taken up the cause of IPS officer P Ravindranath with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The ministers, all dalits, have requested cancellation of the posting of the officer to Dharwad.

In what could be perceived as blatant political interference, the ministers requested the chief minister on Tuesday to give the officer a prominent posting in Bangalore itself.

The officer has alleged that he has been targeted by his seniors because he belongs to a Scheduled Caste.

A woman had lodged a complaint with the police that he had clicked her picture at a coffee shop in Bangalore.

The government had posted him as Assistant Director General of Police (Research and Restructuring) in Dharwad.

It has also ordered a CID probe into the coffee shop incident and the allegations made by Ravindranath against his seniors.

On Tuesday night, ministers Mahadevappa and Anjaneya, accompanied by some other dalit leaders, held a meeting with Ravindranath, asking him to withdraw his resignation.

When contacted by Deccan Herald, Anjaneya said, “We three ministers met the chief minister this (on Tuesday) morning. We told him that the officer feels he is being harassed. Hence, we wanted the chief minister to order an inquiry. We also requested him to cancel the officer's transfer to Dharwad. He is a good officer. We requested the chief minister to expedite the inquiry against him.”

He added, “We also wanted the chief minister to post the Sub-Inspector of High Grounds police station, who took the officer to task, outside Bangalore.” Anjaneya said the officer was advised to withdraw his resignation. He did not reveal the reaction of the chief minister to the suggestions made by the ministers. However, he said, “A new posting may be given by Wednesday evening to the ADGP.”

On Tuesday evening, Home Minister K J George told mediapersons that the police officer had the right to submit his resignation, and also withdraw it, if he wished.

“We, on our part, have forwarded his resignation to the Centre, which is  well within our rights. The matter is already being investigated by the CID,” he added.

It may be noted that as per the Supreme Court verdict in the Prakash Singh case of 2006, politicians should not interfere in postings of police personnel.