Governor's permission sought to prosecute chief minister

'He has been recommending transfer of police officers of his choice'

An application has been filed before the Governor seeking sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for writing recommendatory letters in favour of police officers rendering the Police Establishment Board (PEB) ineffective.

The application filed by V Shashidhar of Police Maha Sangha contended that Siddaramaiah has treated PEB as a board to execute transfer officials of his choice.

“The chief minister has issued more than 40 recommendatory letters between February 20, 2014 and October 14, 2014. These letters were either issued by himself or initialled on the letters from his Cabinet colleagues or party MLAs. The chief minister’s letters direct the State DGP and IGP to execute the transfer recommended by him. Thus, he has committed an offence under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC,” Shashidhar said.

The complainant said that the PEB has followed the directions by the chief minister while preparing the transfer list of officers of DySP and below rank. “In one instance, for example, the chief minister received two recommendatory letters, one from Dodddaballapura MLA T Venkataramanaiah and also from former Union Minister Veerappa Moily to post an officer as DySP Doddaballapura sub-division. The officer was not only transferred to Doddaballapura, but later continued in the post over another recommendatory letter,” he said.

Clout in transfers

The applicant has sought sanction to prosecute the chief minister under Sections 13 (1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, and Sections 120 (b), 166, 193 and 409 of IPC.  “The chief minister has taken oath that he would discharge his duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. Despite the apex court’s direction to restrict politicians’ interference in police transfers, politicians continue to use their clout in transfers,” Shashidhar said.

The PEB was constituted with an intention to do away political interference in transfers and posting of police officers. The decision was taken after the Supreme Court direction. During last September also, the government had directed the State DGP and IGP to halt the transfers initiated by the PEB. The PEB had prepared a list of officials and announced a list of 600 police officials. 

The applicant has placed around 40 recommendatory letters with the application filed before the Governor.