Savishankar Naika, who was deputy superintendent of police in Kudligi, has kicked up a controversy by campaigning for the BJP in the taluk limits.

Naika told DH that he had taken voluntary retirement from his post, but he has no idea whether his application has been accepted or not.

He was found canvassing for the BJP along with party workers in Tambrahalli, Basarakodu, Chilagodu and Nandipura. Naika was also seen at the preparatory meetings for the Parivarthana Yatra of the party.

Naika had been posted in Kudligi after the resignation of Anupama Shenoy, who has formed her own party. He had been suspended after it was found that he had been running a matka racket from his house. He was later transferred to the intelligence department in Bengaluru.

"I submitted the application for voluntary retirement scheme on September 27. Usually, it takes one month for it to be accepted. It is left to the police department to accept it or not," he said.

Naika had service till September, 2018. The BJP, on its part, has clarified that Naika has not joined the party. "It has come to our notice that Naika is canvassing for the party along with some leaders. We will issue a show-cause notice to local leaders in this regard," said P Channabasavanagouda, the district BJP president.