JOIN USAfter a CID investigation, now the Home Department has opted for a departmental inquiry against IPS officer P Ravindranath for reportedly taking photos of a woman on his mobile phone camera at a coffee shop in Bangalore recently.
The government, according to Home Minister K J George, was “unhappy” with the response given by ADGP Ravindranath when it had issued a showcause notice to him after the CID,which investigated the photo clicking charges, submitted a report.
George was replying to questions raised by Opposition members in the Legislative Council on the coffee shop incident wherein a woman had complained to the police against the officer.
George said Ravindranath was an able officer but his conduct post incident was inappropriate. The CID report had stated that Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, whom the officer had accused of framing him, had no role in the incident.
However, the government said that Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Ravi and Constable Manjunath, both attached to High Grounds police station, have been kept under suspension for their behaviour with the ADGP while arresting him from the coffee shop on May 25, the day the photo shoot fracas took place.
George did not respond to questions whether Ravindranath will be placed under suspension till proven not guilty. Making a statement in the Upper House, the minister said B P Deepa, the victim, had filed a complaint at the Cubbon Park police station soon after the photographs were taken by Ravindranath.
The ADGP then decided to place himself behind the bars when he was taken to the police station and created a scene. He then put in his papers on May 27, which was forwarded to the Centre on May 31 by the State government.
However, Ravindranath withdrew his resignation on June 6 and was transferred to Dharwad Circle from his posting as ADGP, Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), Bangalore. The CID, following its investigation, has charged Ravindranath under Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which deals with outraging the modesty of a woman.