False case: K'taka Govt to censure IPS officer

Bangalore, Apr 12 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has decided to censure woman IPS officer Roopa, heading the anti-dacoity squad in Gulbarga, for having allegedly instigated Humnabad police inspector to file a false criminal case against a Congress Legislator, Home Minister M P Prakash informed the Legislative Council today.

Making a statement in the House, he said the Government had also decided to suspend the erring police inspector in the case relating to filing a false criminal case against Congress member Basavaraj Patil Humnabad regarding desecration of an Ambedkar statue at Mannekhanahalli in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district in January.

Mr Prakash said that during investigation into the incident by the Corps of Detectives (COD), the Inspector had confessed that he had filed a false criminal case against the Legislator as per the directions of the then Superintendent of Police Roopa. The CoD officials were yet to corroborate the statement of the Inspector.

However, taking serious view of the incident, the State Government had decided to suspend him and censure Ms Roopa.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil, appreciating the decision of the State Government, demanded the suspension of Ms Roopa as well.

Intervening, Congress member V S Ugrappa demanded that the State Government take stringent action against the IPS officer, who had allegedly pressurised her subordinate officer to file a false case.

''She is equally responsible for the incident,'' he said.

JD(S) member Dr M P Nada Gouda urged the State Government to take deterrent action against the guilty officer.

It may be recalled here that Mr Humnabad, while bringing the incident to the notice of the House, had demanded that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee and suspend the erring officer.

The House, which had referred the issue to the Privileges Committee, instructed the Government to make a statement in the House.

UNI