Lokayukta SP, investigating minister's PA, is transferred prematurely

In another case of premature transfer, the State government on Friday shifted Lokayukta Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru City), Dr B A Mahesh, an IPS officer, who held the post for one year and three months. Sonia Narang, another IPS officer, replaces him.

 Dr Mahesh had assumed office as SP Lokayukta (Bengaluru City) in October 2013. Sources said that cases taken up by the Bengaluru Lokayukta unit, such as the raids on the house of Kantharaju, the personal assistant to Labour Minister P T Parameshwara Naik, chief engineers of Public Works Department and the search at MLA Munirathna’s house in Vyalikaval, had prompted the transfer. The sanction for prosecuting a few chief engineers are still pending with the competent authority.

 Previous incident

Last September, when the government transferred the then ADGP (Lokayukta) H N S Rao, freedom fighter Doreswamy had moved the High Court quoting Lokayukta Justice Rao’s displeasure for not “consulting him” before the transfer. However, even as the petition filed by Doreswamy was pending, Rao was relieved from the post. It came to light that Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee had met Lokayukta Justice Rao at his house and taken the latter’s consent to hold “oral consultation” before effecting transfers in the Lokayukta.  
Doreswamy had recently alleged that there had been attempts to move officials out of the Lokayukta police. 

He said that a legal course against the transfer was not possible since the Lokayukta had consented for oral consultation. 

Other IPS transfers 
Besides, the government has transferred four IPS officers. Following are the new postings of the officers: H S Revanna – Deputy Inspector General of Police, Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services; M Hemant Nimbalkar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Economic Offences (Criminal Investigation Department); D Roopa, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Joint Commissioner, City Armed Reserve Units, Bengaluru; Kuldeep Kumar Jain, Commandant, First Battalion, Karnataka State Reserve Police, Bengaluru.