George denies shielding errant cop

Home Minister K J George said on Thursday that he had not interfered in the departmental probe initiated against any officer in any form.

Reacting to a report published in Deccan Herald dated October 22 under the headline “Home Minister shielding errant cop: Probe report”, he said neither he nor his family had pressured the then police commissioner or additional commissioner of police  (law and order) or any member of the investigating team.

In a written statement issued to this newspaper, George said: “Many times, during meetings with police officials, the chief minister and I have instructed them that departmental inquiries should be completed within the time prescribed and that they should not bow to any kind of pressure. The State government will not interfere in such investigations at any stage. The same has been published in the media on several occasions.”

He said the government is committed to ensuring law and order in the State, and termed the report as far from truth. He said the government will not protect those who are guilty and that action will be initiated against them.

On Wednesday, Deccan Herald had published a news report on how a police officer —Uday Bhaskar, who was charged with extorting money from two Chinese nationals —  was let off without any action being initiated against him. The Chinese were caught smuggling red sanders.

The report mentioned investigation officer Assistant Commissioner of Police N M Nyamagouda’s findings that no action has been initiated against Bhaskar by the government.