IPS officer controversy: JDS demands probe into CM's role

Bangalore, Jun 4:

on Wednesday demanded an inquiry into the alleged role of Chief Minister

in the controversy involving a senior IPS officer for reportedly clicking objectionable pictures of a woman in a coffee shop.

"There has to be an inquiry into Siddaramaiah's role into the 'ClickGate' controversy. Ravindranath was Mysore Police Commissioner when Siddaramaiah's son was booked in a case. I suspect there is a link between Mysore and Ravindranath cases. Has Siddaramaiah indulged in vendetta politics by taking action against Ravindranath," JDS President H D Kumaraswamy told reporters here.

Ravindranath has been accused of allegedly clicking "objectionable" pictures of a woman in a coffee shop and was shifted as ADGP of Karnataka State Reserve Police and posted as Additional Director General of Police, Research and Restructuring, at Dharwad after the woman's complaint.

The action against Ravindranath had led to protests last week by a section of KSRP personnel, who alleged he was being framed and targeted city Police Chief Raghavendra Auradkar for it.

Ravindranath had also filed a complaint against Auradkar, accusing him of atrocity under the SC/ST Act, bringing to surface the friction in the city police top brass.

Kumaraswamy demanded the resignation of Home Minister K J George for his "inefficiency" in handling the case. "He is unfit to be a Home Minister," he said.

"Instead of taking charge of the case, George has allowed blatant political interference of three Dalit ministers - H Anjaneya, H C Mahadevappa and V Srinivas Prasad - who have taken up Ravindranath's cause with Siddaramaiah and asked the Chief Minister to cancel his posting to Dharwad," he said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Law Minister Suresh Kumar accused George of losing control over his department and failing to control law and order in the wake of "shameful" public spat of top police echelon in the city.

"The state is witnessing a very disturbing and shameful incident of the top police echelon having a public spat over the last four days, and Chief Minister and Home Minister have remained mute spectators to this bizarre drama, Kumar said.

PTI