Minister abuses lady IPS officer at seer's funeral

Assisting the Tumakuru district administration in security arrangements at Siddaganga Mutt, previous Superintendent of Police, Tumakuru, Dr Divya Gopinath was put to bitter embarrassment by Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh for stopping him from entering the final rites place at the Mutt on Tuesday evening.

The high-handedness of the minister with a woman police officer, who was only discharging her duties, was not only witnessed by other political personalities at the venue but also drawn flak from various quarters. As soon as the mortal remains of Shivakumara Swami were taken inside, after the guard of honour, for final rites, the district administration in consultation with the mutt officials had prepared a list of dignitaries to be let inside the building which housed the Gadduge. Divya Gopinath, who was overseeing the security, refused to let the minister Sa Ra Mahesh into the building.

Irked Sa Ra Mahesh reportedly shouted, “Bloody lady, do you know who am I? I am a minister…” Caught off guard by the minister’s abusive remark Divya Gopinath was seemingly disheartened and stepped aside sulking. Several other police officials including Tumakuru DC Rakesh Singh came to her rescue.

Sources in the police department revealed to DH that Divya, who was previously the superintendent of police, Tumakuru, was transferred only a few days ago and she had gone on leave. Following the request by the department, Divya returned from the leave to assist the local administration with security arrangements.

Following the bitter squabble, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was apprised of the incident and he reportedly told Sa Ra Mahesh to apologise to the officer and advised him not to conduct himself like that.

Later speaking to media persons BJP MLA V Somanna not only confirmed the incident but said that such incident should not have happened. “When somebody told me that Mahesh was shouting at police, I went out to see. I felt very bad. Mahesh should have visited the mutt as a devotee and not as a minister. I have also told the chief minister that a three-time MLA must not conduct himself like that and he conveyed the same to Mahesh and asked him to apologise.