S.O.S e - Clarion Of Dalit - Weekly Newspaper On Web
Working For The Rights & Survival Of The Oppressed
Editor: NAGARAJA.M.R… VOL.10 issue.30…… .27 / 07 / 2016
Sign to Free Mr.Shashidhar Police Association Chief Imprisoned on false charges of sedition
Editorial : Free Mr. Shashidhar Karnataka Police Association Chief from Jail
- A Prisoner of Conscience
In Karnataka state working conditions of police constables is dismal. Human Rights , Labour Rights , Civil Rights of police constables themselves are grossly violated by superior officers since decades. To their repeated appeals for justice , government is pretending to be deaf , dumb & blind since decades. Inhuman work is extracted from Police constables under the threat of job loss , disciplinary proceedings. In turn stressed up Police Constables vent their anger on hapless innocents , people from poor backgrounds by the way of 3rd degree torture , lock up deaths , fake encounters , etc. Till we respect , protect HUMAN Rights of Police Constables , we can not expect police constables to respect human rights of others.
Mr.Shashidhar , President of Karnataka Police Maha Sangha demanded the government to respect the human rights of police constables and to pay them equal wages on par with their counter parts in other states. He also planned for a peaceful protest by the way of “Mass Leave by Police Constables”. It is perfectly within democratic frame work. However government in it’s bid to silence his voice seeking justice , illegally arrested him and charged him under sedition charges. Government has declared him as an Anti National. In essence , Mr. Shashidhar is a perfect democrat & a law abiding Indian National , Citizen. On the other hand government of Karnataka is anti democratic and it’s act constitutes gross human rights violations.
If at all government of Karnataka is interested in arresting Anti Nationals and legally prosecuting them , let them introspect itself first. There are many anti nationals supporting terrorists , underworld within the government , public service , police & judiciary. Read sample cases at following pages.
But those Anti Nationals within police , judiciary are roaming free , why double standards by Government of Karnataka ? Hereby , we urge Government of Karnataka to immediately release Mr. Shashidhar from prison , to drop sedition charges against him and to formulate polices , work conditions for police constables strictly in accordance with law.
Bottom line : As per law in India , violation of Human Rights is a crime. Successive Chief Ministers , Home Ministers of Karnataka since decades themselves are guilty of violating human rights of Police Constables , thereby they are criminals. Who is going to dare to bell the cats?
Jai Hind. Vande Mataram.
Your’s sincerely,
Nagaraja.M.R.
“It is absurd that demands for better wages and working conditions are being dealt with as crimes against the nation”
Amnesty International India, a human rights NGO, has urged Karnataka state police to drop a sedition case registered against the organizers of a protest, seeking better wages and living and working conditions for police personnel.
On June 2, the police arrested Shashidhar Venugopal, the president of the Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha (All-Karnataka Police Association), from his home in Bengaluru, and Basavaraj Koravankar of the Working Police Families Welfare Committee in Dharwad.
They have also been accused of other offences under the Indian Penal Code. The two former policemen have spearheaded calls for a statewide peaceful police strike on June 4, when over 50,000 personnel were planning to go on mass leave.
Karnataka’s Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Om Prakash said that outside elements were instigating the police personnel.
He said that indiscipline in the police force would not be tolerated and grievances would be resolved amicably when there is no pressure.
Addressing the media on June 2, he said that all those who had applied for mass leave have withdrawn their request after officials visited the families of a few constables.
“It is absurd that demands for better wages and working conditions are being dealt with as crimes against the nation,” said Abhirr VP, campaigner at Amnesty International India.
“Low-ranking police officials often have to endure dismal living and working conditions, and work long hours without any leave. These increase the likelihood of abusive behavior. Karnataka authorities must take concrete steps to improve the working conditions of police officials, and not try to silence protestors by using draconian laws,” he said.
A 2009 report on working of the police in Indian states by Human Rights Watch found that most low-ranking officers were required to be on-call 24 hours a day, every day. Instead of shifts, many worked long hours, sometimes living in tents or filthy barracks. Many were also separated from their families for long periods of time.
Editorial : Police Constables are also Human Beings & Police Constables Too Have Human Rights
An Appeal to National Human rights Commission and Supreme Court of India
Police Constables are also Human Beings , one among us who has chosen the job of policing for livelihood. Since decades their human rights , constitutional rights are violated , their voices seeking justice are suppressed by superior police officers. The Police Constables who tried to organize them , who asked for justice were dismissed from police service.
It has a boomerang effect on vulnerable sections of society. The police constables who work under extreme psychological stress , who’s very own rights are violated are prone to committing rights violations of the weaker people. Till we as a society , government , Superior Police Officers start respecting the human rights of Police constables , we can not expect police constables to respect human rights of others. It is simple Give Respect & Take Respect.
Hereby , We appeal to Honourable National Human Rights Commission of India and Honourable Supreme Court of India , to register following PILs and to protect the Human Rights of both Police Constables and the Public alike.
Jai Hind. Vande Mataram.
Your’s sincerely ,
Nagaraja.M.R.
PIL – Treat Police Constables Humanely
An Appeal to National Human Rights Commission of India and Supreme Court of India
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. OF 2016
IN THE MATTER OF
NAGARAJA . M.R
editor , SOS e Clarion of Dalit & SOS e Voice for Justice
# LIG 2 , No 761 ,, HUDCO First Stage , Laxmikantanagar ,
Hebbal , Mysore – 570017 , Karnataka State
.
....Petitioner
Versus
Honourable Chief Secretary , Government of Karnataka & Others
....Respondents
PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 12 to ARTICLE 35 & ARTICLE 51A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA FOR ISSUANCE OF A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS UNDER ARTICLE 32 & ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
To ,
1. Hon'ble The Chief Justice of India and His Lordship's Companion Justices of the Supreme Court of India.
2. Hon’ble Chairman , National Human Rights Commission of India
The Humble petition of the Petitioner above named.
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH :
1. Facts of the case:
Police constables are also Human Beings and must be treated as such by superior officers and all.
As every other Human Being , police constables also has got human rights of equality , dignity of labor , equitable justice.
As Indian citizens police constables has constitutionally guaranteed rights of equality , equitable justice , etc.
Police constables are appointed , trained for the very specific purpose of maintaining law , order and detecting crimes.
When police constables are treated humanely by superiors and others , they will reciprocate the same.
Police constables are always under the threat of criminals , anti nationals , mafia. But they are not paid any compensation by government when murdered by criminals , on the lines of soldiers becoming martyr during war.
Government has enacted laws enforcing equal pay for equal work , 1 earned leave for 20 working days , maximum of 8 working hours , one paid weekly off after 48 working hours or 6 days , for all private & public sector employees. In case of urgency over time work can be allotted to worker with his willingness ( not forced ) at the rate of double wages. For violation of these laws , labor department officials will prosecute guilty company executives.
Since decades , police constables are not paid equal wages in comparison to their counterparts in other states and with people of their own rank like teachers , electric line mans , etc in our state itself. Everyday they are forced to work beyond 8 hours without any additional wages. Leaves are not sanctioned. They are addressed by first name in vulgar language by superior officers and forced to do menial jobs by superior officers which are not part of police manual or service rules. Those who refuse to do it are dismissed by superior officers citing indiscipline. Day in day out every second police constables are treated inhumanely by superior officers. POLICE CONSTABLES HUMAN RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED by superior officers since decades. These police constables work under extreme psychological stress and some police constables vent out their anger on innocents , suspects in lock up by using 3rd degree torture methods. Some other constables have fired at their superior officers and some have gone to the extreme of committing suicide.
In the name of discipline , job security , the doors to legal redress of grievances are shut for police constables.
Till violation of Human Rights of Police Constables are not stopped , you can not stop human rights violations by police , 3rd degree torture of innocents , lock up deaths by police.
2. Question(s) of Law:
Is it right for senior government officials , police officers , ministers , judges to violate HUMAN RIGHTS , CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS of Police Constables ?
3. Grounds:
Requests for equitable justice , protection of constitutional rights , human rights of police constables and Prosecution of guilty judges , police officers , IAS officers , ministers.
4. Averment:
Please read following cases at website mentioned below :
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/115594/these-cops-much-abused-bosses.html ,
Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the concerned public servants in the following cases to perform their duties , to respect the Human Rights , Constitutional Rights of police constables.
That the present petitioner has not filed any other petition (which are admitted by courts) in any High Court or the Supreme Court of India on the subject matter of the present petition.
PRAYER:
In the above premises, it is prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased:
a . Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the chief secretaries of all stae governments , the concerned public servants in the present case , to perform their duties.
b . to pass such other orders and further orders as may be deemed necessary on the facts and in the circumstances of the case.
c. To legally prosecute guilty judges , police officers , IAS officers , ministers and their family members who are ill treating ( under threat ) police constables and violating their human rights , constitutional rights.
d. To immediately ban colonial era system of providing police constables as orderlies to senior government officials , judges , ministers.
e. To immediately order respective state governments to pay over time pay to all police constables with back wages , over time wages since their appointment till date.
f. To immediately order state governments to start process of police constables recruitment.
g. To give staggered weekly off to all police constables without fail.
h. To order state governments to strictly pay equal wages for equal work to all police constables in comparison to their counter parts in other states and state government employees of their same rank in their own states.
i. To order state governments to pay compensation to police constables who die in the line of duty on par with military compensation.
j. To order state government to constitute district committees comprising of district head of police , doctor , psychiatrist , behavior specialist and human rights expert , providing a forum for victimized police constables to air their grievances and in turn getting counseling , grievance redress. This will go a long way in controlling 3rd degree torture of innocents by police , lock up deaths also.
FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE PETITIONER SHALL BE DUTY BOUND, EVER PRAY.
Dated : 29th April 2016 …………………….FILED BY: NAGARAJA.M.R.
Place : Mysuru , India……………………. PETITIONER-IN-PERSON
PIL – Ban Orderly services performed by Police Constables , others
An Appeal to National Human Rights Commission of India and Supreme Court of India
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. OF 2016
IN THE MATTER OF
NAGARAJA . M.R
editor SOS e Clarion of Dalit & SOS e Voice for Justice
# LIG 2 , No 761 ,, HUDCO First Stage , Laxmikantanagar ,
Hebbal , Mysore – 570017 , Karnataka State
.
....Petitioner
Versus
Honourable Chief Secretary , Government of Karnataka & Others
....Respondents
PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 12 to ARTICLE 35 & ARTICLE 51A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA FOR ISSUANCE OF A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS UNDER ARTICLE 32 & ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
To ,
1. Hon'ble The Chief Justice of India and His Lordship's Companion Justices of the Supreme Court of India.
2. Hon’ble Chairman , National Human Rights Commission of India
The Humble petition of the Petitioner above named.
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH :
1. Facts of the case:
Police constables are appointed , trained for the very specific purpose of maintaining law , order and detecting crimes.
Dalayaths , peons in various state & central government departments are appointed , trained for the very specific purpose of assisting their immediate superior in official duties.
Police constables , Peons , Dalayaths are PUBLIC SERVANTS / GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS paid from public exchequer to do public duties.
Police Constables , Peons , Dalayaths are Human Beings , deserve respect by all including their superiors.
Police Constables , Peons , Dalayaths are ill treated , they are treated as SLAVES / Bonded Labourers by their superior judges , police officers , IAS officers , Ministers , etc. They are forced to do menial jobs (other than official duties ) like clearing night soil from sewage line , washing under wears , clothes of officer & his family members , polishing shoes of officers , their family members , washing clothes , cooking utensils , etc.
If the officer & his family members are suffering from PARALYSIS or any other health problems which makes them unable to perform their own work , then they can appoint private persons by paying from their personal pockets.
2. Question(s) of Law:
Is it right for senior government officials to force ( under threat ) their subordinate officials to do officer’s personal , private work ?
3. Grounds:
Requests for equitable justice , protection of constitutional rights , human rights of police constables , dalayaths , peons and Prosecution of guilty judges , police officers , IAS officers , ministers.
4. Averment:
Please read following cases at website mentioned below :
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/115594/these-cops-much-abused-bosses.html ,
Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the concerned public servants in the following cases to perform their duties , to respect the rights of police constables , dalayaths , peons. To assign proper official duties to police constables , dalayaths & peons.
That the present petitioner has not filed any other petition (which are admitted by courts) in any High Court or the Supreme Court of India on the subject matter of the present petition.
PRAYER:
In the above premises, it is prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased:
a . Hereby , I do request the honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the concerned public servants in the present case , to perform their duties.
b . to pass such other orders and further orders as may be deemed necessary on the facts and in the circumstances of the case.
c. To legally prosecute guilty judges , police officers , IAS officers , ministers and their family members who are ill treating ( under threat ) police constables , dalayaths , peons.
d. To immediately ban colonial era system of providing orderlies to senior government officials.
FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE PETITIONER SHALL BE DUTY BOUND, EVER PRAY.
Dated : 20th April 2016 …………………….FILED BY: NAGARAJA.M.R.
Place : Mysuru , India……………………. PETITIONER-IN-PERSON
The pitiable conditions constables live in
The Sunday’s incident of a police constable shooting at sub-inspector in Rajanakunte police station over a spat, points at the mental agony the constables go through every day.
Not only constables, even senior police officers accept the fact that acute crunch of staff and 'ill-treatment' of policemen by their seniors are the causes for the tiff between constables and senior officers.
Bad working and living conditions
A 28-year-old constable working in Basaveshwaranagar police station said that he regretted his decision of joining the department.
“During our training days, we are prepared to work under any situations. After we start working, most of us realise that the training programme is nothing like the present working conditions, as we work in horrible conditions. The list of problems start with basics like toilets. There are no good toilets in most of the stations in the city. The condition of houses in police quarters is miserable. They are built some decades ago and are not even repaired. Most of them are not even provided quarters. Though they are provided, it will be very far from the stations we work. For instance, if a constable is working in a police station in south division, he will be given a house in north or north-east division. It will take at least an hour to reach the station and two hours a day is wasted on travelling, besides working for a minimum of 12 hours,” he said.
No promotions after many years of service
A head constable working in Yelahanka police station said, “A sub-inspector will be promoted as inspector just after 5-6 years of service. But I had to wait for 20 years for a promotion from constable to head constable rank. My case is better as there are so many who have retired as constables. I don’t have any hope that I will retire as an assistant sub-inspector.”
No day offs, no leaves
A constable in Wilson Garden station said, “Some of the senior officials react as if we are committing a ‘crime’ if we ask for leave. If some of the family members or close relatives pass away, we will be granted leave, that too on suspicion. People will be in celebration mood during festive seasons, but we are not supposed to take leave for festivals. We are paid a meagre amount for working on holidays. Some officers use us for their personal works. When this is the situation, how can we get rejuvenated in regular intervals.”
Expert take
Retired DGP D V Guruprasad, who had done a survey— A profile of Junior ranks of Karnataka Police: A survey of their Attitudes, Behaviour, Mental makeup and Stress levels—in 2007 said, “Unhygienic working and living conditions are the basic reasons for stress among policemen. They are overworked and are deprived of spending time with their family members. There are no recreation activities at work place. Shortage of staff is another major reason for the stress the policemen are going through.”
Karnataka Police Constables used as Construction Workers
The whole issue came to light when an unknown person filmed the police constables engaged in the construction of the house.
A senior Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) force is under the limelight with an inquiry initiated against him. The Hindu reports that a Superintendent of Police attached to the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) had allegedly misused police constables for personal work. The report states that he used them in place of construction labourers to build his house in Parappana Agrahara.
The whole issue came to light when an unknown person filmed the police constables engaged in the construction of the house on their mobile phone. The report states that senior police officers are now investigating the veracity of the video footage.
Using police constables for personal work is illegal, added the source. Additional Director General of Police Kamal Pant has reportedly ordered an inquiry by a senior officer. There has also been a show cause notice issued to Superintendent of Police Revanna who is attached to the 4{+t}{+h}Battalion, KSRP.
The daily adds that Revanna reportedly denied the allegations when he was questioned by senior police personnel. “We have recorded his statement and also summoned the personnel who were seen in the video footage for questioning,” a senior police officer was quoted by the daily as stating.
Should police constables continue to cook and clean for senior officers?
They cook, clean, tend to the garden, drop off the children to school and pick them up, take their employers’ wives out for errands. But they aren’t domestic workers. Meet the orderlies of police forces across the country, part of a system that was put in place during the British rule over the Indian sub-continent.
While a Parliamentary panel has recommended that the system of orderlies be abolished from both the Army, and the state police forces, the report found no takers.
Recently, Director-General and Inspector-General of the Karnataka Police Om Prakash and his son were jointly interviewing around 10-15 police constables so that they could be deputed as orderlies, according to a Bangalore Mirror report.
Low ranking police personnel drawn from the reserve police, orderlies are deputed into the service of officers of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above. According to a Deccan Chronicle report, each officer can avail a certain number of orderlies but information procured under the Right to Information Act showed that many officers were violating these norms.
Police officials who spoke to The News Minute on condition of anonymity said that in most cases, those who were deputed as orderlies were doing the personal errands of the officers. In one case, a police constable recalls the Police Control Room van or the PCR van introduced in Karnataka’s cities some years was used to ferry the family of a senior officer around when they were visiting the city.
In August 2013, The Hindu reported that Bengaluru-based RTI activist group Mahiti Hakku Adhyanana Kendra had sought information from the state police on the status of orderlies. It turned out that around 3,000 constables were working as orderlies, and the state incurred an annual expenditure of around Rs 78 crore for providing orderlies.
In April 2013, a Parliamentary panel comprising 29 MPs and headed by BJP Rajya Sabha member Venkaiah Naidu recommended that the government abolish the practice altogether. The Times of India had reported that even the Second Administrative Reforms Committee and the Sixth Pay Commission too had said the same.
The Parliamentary panel however, had also recommended that the government sanction posts of cooks, drivers and attendants separately, when the country had a shortage of over five lakh police personnel in a sanctioned strength of 21.24 lakh.
Several years before this, however, Andhra Pradesh had done away with the system, after an orderly died under mysterious circumstances.
This culture of subservience to a higher ranking official is not just limited to the orderly system when it comes to the police. It pervades the entire hierarchy where every official exerts power over those junior to themselves.
During a visit to a police station this reporter remembers meeting a Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of the district crime records bureau for some statistics. Sitting at his table in a run-down office, the DySP said: “Eh, barappa illi!” (Come here you!). Bending a little, he pulled up a plastic bag from under the table and removed the jar of a mixer from inside, and asked the constable who turned up to get it repaired.
Another practice that the police have is the “salaam” culture. One constable in every police station is supposed to hold a rifle – unloaded – and wait at the entrance of the police station. That constable’s job is to stand in attention and salute every officer above the rank of sub-inspector when they come and go.
The “mai-baap” mentality is everywhere, even outside the Deputy Commissioner or Collector’s office, standing in ujala-tinged white uniform and red sash, complete with red-trimmed turban to salute and be ignored. It’s high time we do away with it.
Karnataka top police official transferred for alleged misuse of staff
A senior police official has been transferred by Karnataka government after a video purportedly showing staff under him being used for cleaning a community hall owned by him surfaced.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the transfer of DIG Railways H S Venkatesh as the video surfaced showing police personnel under him being used for cleaning of a community hall, official sources said today.
They said the Chief Minister himself questioned about the incident in a meeting with top police officials yesterday and sought a report from them.
Venkatesh has not been given any posting.
The video has come as an embarrassment to the government which is bracing itself to deal with the threat by the constabulary to go on a mass leave on June 4, against alleged harassment of lower rank police personnel by senior officials, lesser pay and other issues.
The visuals showed police personnel in uniform sweeping and mopping the community hall, owned by Venkatesh.
The video was reportedly shot by constables used for the work ahead the inauguration of the community hall in April.
Karnataka Police Constables Forced to do Domestic Work
73% Police In India Work 7 Days A Week Every Month, Causing Health Issues, Demotivation
A recent report published by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BRPD) and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) has found that 90% of police officers work for more than eight hours a day and 73% do not get a weekly off even once a month. That's not all. They are often called into work on their rare holidays for emergency work.
If a police officer in your area doesn't work efficiently or has a bad attitude it might be because of this reason. The police force is highly overworked, underpaid and completely under-staffed.
These terrible working conditions have lead to serious health concerns, widespread discontent and demotivation within the police force, which eventually results in a diminished perception of the police by the general public.
According to Times of India , the research involved extensive field survey including 12,156 police station staff, 1,003 SHOs and 962 supervisory officers, from ranks ranging from constables to IGPs, in 319 districts in 23 states and two Union Territories. All nine police stations types - metropolitan, urban, urban-rural mixed, rural, crime, traffic, women, tribal and others were covered in the survey.
" The field survey conducted among the large samples of SHOs and supervisory offices indicates that nearly 90% of police station staff works for more than eight hours a day. More than 68% of SHOs and over 76% of supervisory officers stated that staff members in police stations were on duty for 11 hours or more per day. 27.7% SHOs and 30.4% supervisory officers reported that their staff worked for more than 14 hours a day," the study said.
The study also shows that the current working hours are not in consonance with Indian labour laws, or international laws, they are also in violation of Article 42 of the Indian Constitution.
Talking about impacts, the study said, "The long hours of duty have had multiple negative impacts on efficient policing. Nearly two-thirds (74%) of respondents among police station staff have reported that the current working hours lead to health problems of different kinds for them. A large majority (more than 76%) of SHOs also felt that the current duty hour arrangement was deleterious to health of staff. Conditions like joint pain due to long hours of standing, stress, sleeplessness, acidity, etc seem to occur early in life of police personnel. "
All of this takes a toll on their moral, motivation and self-esteem. Their overall behaviour with the public is probably a manifestation of their poor working conditions.
More than anything, the conditions within which they work have adverse affects on their quality of work. Weary and tired policemen will not be able to perform their best, whether it is in crime investigation, law and order duties, information gathering or patrolling. Their job performance will be affected and thus our safety will be jeopardised.
The study said introduction of shift system would mean rationalizing the work hour norms for police station staff to more acceptable limits. According to the SHOs, there was a need of 1.68 times strength of the present sanctioned strength for the shift system.
The study suggested that augmentation of police station strength with some 337,500 personnel (50% of the present sanctioned strength) would take the ratio of police station manpower to a little over 45% of the total police strength in the states/Union Territories, and this would help in ensuring efficient policing.
"Shift system of functioning in police stations is absolutely imperative for efficient and people-friendly policing, as also for conducive work-life balance for police personnel. Implementation of shift system in police station work is a functionally achievable objective, as established by our case studies of the 8-hour duty system of Kerala Police," the study said.
The police force in this country is highly under-appreciated, they work non-stop and have no means of releasing frustration other than on the public. Police brutality has become a growing problem, resulting in the public completely losing faith in those entrusted to keep them safe. But one cannot solely blame the cops for this, they are expected to get results and get them fast. They use whatever means necessary - not to say that this should be excused - but what choices are they left with?
The government needs to put in a great deal of effort to increase funding and employment within the force. Perhaps increasing the number of women officers to take some of the burden off the men could be a start.
Indian Police Constables work culture
Pocket Book for Police – Human Rights Standards
Understanding the Psychology of Police Misconduct
|
By Brian D. Fitch, PhD, Lieutenant, Los Angeles, California, Sheriff’s Department
|
Law enforcement is a unique profession, with officers experiencing a host of freedoms not available to the general public, including the application of deadly force, high-speed driving, and seizing personal property. While these liberties may be necessary, they also can create opportunities for wrongdoing, especially if such behavior is likely to go undetected because of poor supervision. The embarrassment caused by misconduct can damage the public trust, undermine officer morale, and expose agencies to unnecessary—and, in many cases, costly—litigation.1 Consequently, a clear understanding of the psychology underlying unethical behavior is critical to every law enforcement supervisor and manager at every level of an organization, regardless of one’s agency or mission.
Law enforcement agencies go to great lengths to recruit, hire, and train only the most qualified applicants—candidates who have already demonstrated a track record of good moral values and ethical conduct. Similarly, most officers support the agency, its values, and its mission, performing their duties ethically while avoiding any misconduct or abuse of authority. Yet despite the best efforts of organizations everywhere, it seems that one does not have to look very far these days to find examples of police misconduct, particularly in the popular press.2 Even more disturbing, however, is that many of the officers engaged in immoral or unethical behavior previously demonstrated good service records, absent any of the “evil” typically associated with corruption or abuse.
While it is probably true that at least some of the officers who engage in illicit activities managed somehow to slip through the cracks in the hiring process and simply continued their unethical ways, this account fails to explain how otherwise good officers become involved in misconduct. The purpose of this article is to familiarize law enforcement managers and supervisors with the cognitive rationalizations that can contribute to unethical behavior. The article also offers strategies and suggestions intended to mitigate misconduct, before it actually occurs, by developing a culture of ethics.
Moral Responsibility and Disengagement
Most law enforcement professionals are, at their core, good, ethical, and caring people. Despite the overuse of a popular cliché, many officers do in fact enter law enforcement because they want to make a positive difference in their communities. Officers frequently espouse strong, positive moral values while working diligently—in many cases, at great personal risk—to bring dangerous criminals to justice. Doing so provides officers with a strong sense of personal satisfaction and self-worth. As a result, most officers do not—and in many cases cannot—engage in unethical conduct unless they can somehow justify to themselves the morality of their actions.3
Decades of empirical research have supported the idea that whenever a person’s behaviors are inconsistent with their attitudes or beliefs, the individual will experience a state of psychological tension—a phenomenon referred to as cognitive dissonance. 4 Because this tension is uncomfortable, people will modify any contradictory beliefs or behaviors in ways intended to reduce or eliminate discomfort. Officers can reduce psychological tension by changing one or more of their cognitions—that is, by modifying how they think about their actions and the consequences of those behaviors—or by adjusting their activities, attitudes, or beliefs in ways that are consistent with their values and self-image. Generally speaking, an officer will modify the cognition that is least resistant to change, which, in most cases, tends to be the officer’s attitudes, not behaviors.
One of the simplest ways that officers can reduce the psychological discomfort that accompanies misconduct is to cognitively restructure unethical behaviors in ways that make them seem personally and socially acceptable, thereby allowing officers to behave immorally while preserving their self-image as ethically good people. The following is a partial list of common rationalizations that officers can use to neutralize or excuse unethical conduct:5
Table 1: Rationalizing Misconduct
|
Strategy
|
Description
|
Denial of Victim
|
Alleging that because there is no legitimate victim, there is no misconduct.
|
Victim of Circumstance
|
Behaving improperly because the officer had no other choice, either because of peer pressure or unethical supervision.
|
Denial of Injury
|
Because nobody was hurt by the officer’s action, no misconduct actually occurred.
|
Advantageous Comparisons
|
Minimizing or excusing one’s own wrongdoing by comparing it to the more egregious behavior of others.
|
Higher Cause
|
Breaking the rules because of some higher calling—that is, removing a known felon from the streets.
|
Blame the Victim
|
The victim invited any suffering or misconduct by breaking the law in the first place.
|
Dehumanization
|
Using euphemistic language to dehumanize people, thereby making them easier to victimize.
|
Diffusion of Responsibility
|
Relying on the diffusion of responsibility among the involved parties to excuse misconduct.
|
Denial of victim. Officers who rely on this tactic argue that because no victim exists, no real harm has been done. It is probably safe to suggest that officers do not generally regard drug dealers, thieves, and sexual predators as bona fide victims, regardless of the nature of an officer’s conduct. An officer, for instance, who takes money from a suspected drug dealer during the service of a search warrant might argue that because the dealer acquired the currency illegally, the dealer was never actually entitled to the proceeds. Rather, the money belongs to whoever possesses it at the time.
Victim of circumstance. Officers who utilize this method convince themselves that they behaved improperly only because they had no other choice. Officers may claim that they were the victims of peer pressure, an unethical supervisor, or an environment where “everyone else is doing it,” so what else could they possibly have done? Regardless of the context, these officers excuse their conduct by alleging that they had no alternative but to act unethically.
Denial of injury. Using this form of rationalization, officers persuade themselves that because nobody was actually hurt by their actions, their behavior was not really immoral. This explanation is especially common in cases involving drugs, stolen property, or large amounts of untraceable cash where it can be difficult, if not impossible, to identify an injured party. Officers who use this tactic may further neutralize their deviant conduct by comparing it to the harm being done by the drug dealer from whom the money was stolen.
Advantageous comparisons. Officers who depend on this explanation rely on selective social comparisons to defend their conduct. Officers who falsify a police report to convict a suspected drug dealer, for example, might defend their actions by minimizing their participation or the frequency of their unethical behavior, while at the same time vilifying a coworker as someone who “lies all the time on reports.” In comparison to an officer who routinely falsifies reports, the first officer’s conduct can seem less egregious.
Higher cause. Officers who practice this type of cognitive restructuring argue that sometimes, it may be necessary to break certain rules to serve a higher calling or to achieve a more important goal. An officer who conducts an unlawful search to uncover evidence against a suspected pedophile might reason that the nature of the crime justifies breaking the rules. “The ends justify the means,” officers might assert—suggesting that they did what was necessary, regardless of the legality or morality of their conduct, to put a dangerous criminal behind bars. This form of rationalization can be especially disturbing because it goes beyond merely excusing or justifying deviant behavior to the point of actually glorifying certain forms of wrongdoing in the name of “justice” or “the greater good.”
Blame the victim. An officer who uses this form of justification blames the victim for any misconduct or abuse. If, for instance, officers use unreasonable force on a suspected drug dealer, they can simply argue that the victim brought on this suffering by violating the law. “If the dealer doesn’t want to get beat up, the dealer should obey the law,” the officer might reason. “I’m not using force on law-abiding citizens, only on drug dealers; they give up their rights when they break the rules.” By assigning blame to the victim, the officer not only finds a way to excuse any wrongdoing, but also a way to feel sanctimonious about doing so.
Dehumanization. The amount of guilt or shame officers feel for behaving unethically depends, at least in part, on how they regard the person being abused. To avoid the feelings of self-censorship or guilt that often accompany misconduct, officers can employ euphemistic language to strip victims of their humanity. Using terms like “dirtbag” to describe law violators has the effect of dehumanizing intended targets, generally making it easier for officers to justify, ignore, or minimize the harmful effects of their actions, while at the same time reducing their personal responsibility for behaving in ways that they know are wrong.
Diffusion of responsibility. An officer who uses this excuse relies on the shared participation—and, by extension, the shared guilt—of everyone involved in an incident of misconduct to excuse or reduce any personal culpability. With each additional accomplice, every individual officer is seen as that much less responsible for any wrongdoing that might have occurred. If, for instance, money is stolen from an arrestee, officers might assert that there were many officers at the crime scene who could have done this, so an individual cannot be blamed. Similarly, if ten officers were involved in the service of a search warrant, then each officer is only one-tenth responsible for any misconduct that occurs.
Misconduct’s Slippery Slope
It is important to note that most officers do not jump headfirst into large-scale misconduct—instead, they weigh in gradually in a process referred to as incrementalism.6 The strength and ease with which officers can rationalize unethical behavior also depends, at least in part, on how they view their conduct, the people harmed by their actions, and the consequences that flow from their actions. An officer’s initial slide down the slippery slope of misconduct can begin with nothing more than simple policy violations that, if left unchecked, generate a mild feeling of psychological tension or discomfort. However, by learning to rationalize wrongdoing in ways that make it psychologically and morally acceptable, officers are able to relieve any feelings of distress or discomfort, effectively disengaging their moral compasses.
Officers can employ cognitive rationalizations prospectively (before the corrupt act) to forestall guilt and resistance, or retrospectively (after the misconduct) to erase any regrets. In either case, the more frequently an officer rationalizes deviant behavior, the easier each subsequent instance of misconduct becomes.7This is because the more frequently officers employ rationalizations, the easier it becomes to activate similar thought patterns in the future. With time and repeated experience, rationalizations can eventually become part of the habitual, automatic, effortless ways that officers think about themselves, their duties, and the consequences of their actions, eventually allowing officers to engage in increasingly egregious acts of misconduct with little, if any, of the guilt or shame commonly associated with wrongdoing.
As officers learn to pay less attention to the morality of their actions, the ways they think about misconduct—that is, their attitudes, beliefs, and values—may begin to change as well. Officers can begin defining behaviors that were once seen as unethical or immoral as necessary parts of completing their assigned duties. Even more troubling, however, is that once rationalizations become part of an agency’s dominant culture, they can alter the ways officers define misconduct, particularly if wrongdoings are rewarded either informally by an officer’s peer group or formally by the organization.
Ethics Education
Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, as well as abroad, have begun to recognize the importance of ethics training. While such attention represents a significant step in the right direction, ethical instruction is often limited to little more than the discussion and development of proper moral values—an approach commonly referred to as character education.8 Proponents of this method suggest that officers who possess the right values—and, by extension, the right character—will always do the right thing, regardless of the circumstances. Although few people would argue with the importance of good moral values and character, ethical decisions are not always simple.
Before officers can act ethically, they must recognize the moral nature of a situation; decide on a specific and, hopefully, ethical course of action; possess the requisite moral motivation to take action; and demonstrate the character necessary to follow through with his decision.9 To further complicate matters, even the best of intentions can be thwarted by peer pressure or fear of retaliation. For example, the 2003 National Business Ethics Survey found that approximately 40 percent of those surveyed would not report misconduct if they observed it because of fear of reprisal from management.10
This cloud does, however, contain a silver lining. Research has demonstrated that ethics education can assist officers in better navigating moral challenges by increasing ethical awareness and moral reasoning—two critical aspects of ethical decision making.11 However, conducting meaningful ethics education requires more than lengthy philosophical lectures on the importance of character. Rather, instructors should focus on facilitating a dialogue that challenges officers on key moral issues and assumptions; tests their reasoning and decision-making skills; and allows them to share their experiences in a safe, supportive environment.12
For ethics education to be truly effective, organizations must make moral discussions a regular part of the agency’s training program. In the same way that officers routinely train in defensive tactics, firearms, and law to better prime them for field duties, officers should prepare equally well for any ethical issues they might encounter.13 Supervisors can stimulate ethical discussions with a video documentary, news clip, or fictional story. Regardless of the stimulus, however, the more frequently officers discuss ethics, the better able they will be to recognize a moral dilemma, make the appropriate ethical decision, and demonstrate the moral courage necessary to behave honorably.
Next, law enforcement agencies must establish a clear code of ethical conduct, including a set of core values and mission statement. Merely establishing a code of ethical conduct is not enough, however; the department’s top management must lead by example. It is important to remember that a code of conduct applies equally to employees at all levels of an organization.14 As most leaders can confirm from experience, officers can be surprisingly quick to point out any inconsistencies between the organization’s stated values and the conduct of senior management. If leaders expect officers to behave ethically, leaders must model the way.
Departments must also work to create systems that reward ethical conduct and punish unethical behavior.15 Core values and codes of conduct are of little value if they are not supported by wider agency objectives that reward ethical actions. Not only should law enforcement organizations reward officers for behaving ethically, they must also seriously address officers’ ethical concerns by thoroughly investigating any allegations, while protecting the confidentiality of those reporting such incidents. And, finally, agencies should strive to create an open environment where ethical issues can be discussed without fear of punishment or reprisal.
In the end, mitigating and, hopefully, eliminating misconduct require regular ethics training, high ethical standards, appropriate reward systems, and a culture in which ethical issues are discussed freely. While the responsibility for creating a culture of ethics rests with leadership, individual officers must do their part to behave ethically, support the moral conduct of others, and challenge misconduct in all its forms. Only by remaining vigilant to the psychology of misconduct can law enforcement professionals focus attention back on the positive aspects of their profession, while enjoying the high levels of public trust necessary to do their jobs. ■
To,
Shri Justice T S Thakur ,
Honourable Chie Justice of India ,
No.5 , Krishna Menon Marg ,
New Delhi – 110011.
Honourable Sir,
Subject : Honourable Chief Justice of India Resign from judicial service
Read the following articles it shows the ugly face , criminal face of Indian Police & Indian Judges. Ofcourse , there are honest few in police service & judiciary , but their numbers are dwindling day by day. Their voices are muted. A crime can happen without the knowledge of police , but a crime cann’t continue for years without the knowledge , connivance of local police.
Inspite of repeated appeals , show cause notices by our publication to you , you have not replied let alone take action. You & your office staff lack decorum , etiquette , duty consciousness of replying to letters. You are making contempt of citizens of india. But remember the basic fact that you are enjoying 5 star pay , perks at the expense of public.
Throughout this petition & in our past appeals , the term “JUDGE” includes all public servants right from revenue inspector , officials performing quasi judicial functions right up to chief justice of india.
In the following articles we have clearly shown how justice is delayed & justice manipulated in india. SCI & CJI is not even bothered about health conditions , life of applicants. I am suffering from health problems caused by my previous occupation at M/s RPG Cables Ltd and am in my final days , authorities , SCI , CJI is not bothered to give justice inspite of my repeated appeals for more than a decade.
Following two examples , actual cases highlighting the judicial delays :
1. In Mysore ideal Jawa Factory , company was locked out. Huge amounts were outstanding to banks , suppliers , employees. The land usage , alienation could have been converted from industrial use to commercial to get higher market price and then auctioned. We appealed for same to authorities including SCI , but they didn’t heed. It was auctioned off for lesser price , proceeds earned was far less to fully pay outstanding amounts to banks , suppliers and employees. They were only paid less amounts , thus public banks , suppliers , employees were cheated of their rightful dues. Afterwards the new buyer got the alienation , converted it from industrial use to commercial usage , demolished factory building built huge residential complex and earned crores of rupees profit.
2. In mysore BEML quarters lake & Hebbal lake are encroached. In the beginning itself , I have appealed to authorities , SCI , CJI to stop the encroachments. District magistrate at that time threatened me. Even some citizens groups led protest marches. Nobody was botherd. Today both lakes are encroached , huge buildings , factories are functioning.
It is the duty of Supreme Court of India to Protect , Guard the constitutional rights , fundamental rights of every Indian citizen . Since 25 years I am appealing to SCI about issues concerning public welfare , national security , etc and as a result suffering injustices , my constitutional rights , human rights are repeatedly violated but SCI is mum even when repeated appeals were made to it. Paradoxically , after these appeals for justice , I have suffered more injustices , attempts on my life were made , physically assaulted , livelihood / jobs were denied , news publication closed , press accreditation denied , received threatening calls , blank calls, even to date rough elements follow us , rough elements scout near home at mid night. Does not these indicate some ties between rough elements & SCI Judges ?
Mr.T.S.Thakur , You personally as CJI is responsible for protection of our whole family & must ensure protection of our whole family. Please don’t send police once again to our home , they lack practical powers , failed previously to enquire high & mighty. They are only interested in taking my statement & closing the case. I have given enough statements to police , IB. Based on those statements , a supreme court monitored CBI enquiry is appropriate, to prosecute corrupt public servants.
1. Why not police are given enough powers to summon , enquire high & mighty VVIPs ? Why my decade old complaint to DGP is not acted upon ?
2. Why the enquiry of higher executive in M/s RBI Curreny Note Press (BRBNMPL) , PES Engineering College , NIE , RPG Cables , Mysore District Court is not done ? These people illegally denied me job opportunities under the behest of criminals , if they are enquired they will point to the criminal behind.
3. Why the enquiry of concerned judges is not made , who are denying information and delaying to act upon our PILs , under whose behest ? If enquired these judges will spill the beans about criminals behind.
I ,NAGARAJA.M.R. hereby do declare that information given above are true to the best of my knowledge & belief. If i am repeatedly called to police station or else where for the sake of investigations , the losses i do incurr as a result like loss of wages , transportation , job , etc must be borne by the government. prevoiusly the police / IB personnel repeatedly called me the complainant (sufferer of injustices) to police station for questioning , but never called the guilty culprits even once to police station for questioning , as the culprits are high & mighty . this type of one sided questioning must not be done by police or investigating agencies . if anything untoward happens to me or to my family members like loss of job , meeting with hit & run accidents , loss of lives , death due to improper medical care , etc , the jurisdictional police , revenue officials , District Magistrate & Chief Justice of India together with above mentioned accused public servants will be responsible for it. Even if criminal nexus levels fake charges , police file fake cases against me or my dependents to silence me , this complaint is & will be effective.
If I or my family members or my dependents are denied our fundamental rights , human rights , denied proper medical care for ourselves , If anything untoward like hit & run cases , murder attempts , unnatural deaths , etc happens to me or to my dependents or to my family members - In such case Mr.T.S.Thakur , Chief Justice of India together with the jurisdictional revenue & police officials will be responsible for it , in such case the government of india is liable to pay Rs. TWO crore as compensation to survivors of my family. if my whole family is eliminated by the criminal nexus ,then that compensation money must be donated to Indian Army Welfare Fund. Afterwards , the money must be recovered by GOI as land arrears from the salary , pension , property , etc of guilty police officials , guilty Judges , guilty public servants & guilty Constitutional fuctionaries.
You are delaying taking action with respect to PILs , appeals made by us concerning public welfare , national security, loss to public exchequer , etc. Where as courts have enough time to hear trivial cases of cricket boards , etc. When you cann’t work without fear or favour of criminals inside & outside government , you are unfit for the post . Your continuation in office only serves your self interest not the country. Hereby , we request you to RESIGN from the position of chief justice of india and to pave the way for may be to a person who can work , uphold law. But you can still continue in office as a burden on public exchequer , society as some of the previous CJIs did.
We are witnessing unfit people being selected as judges by collegiums , public service commissions. Till rot in judiciary is cleared , judges lack moral , legal right to prosecute , punish others. Only when we have honest persons in judiciary , police service then alone we can clean criminals in judiciary , police service , government. Then alone we will get RAM RAJYA , a just society envisioned by our constitution framers.
Against common people , you judges make harsh comments , strict enforcement of law , police cruelly treat commoners , use 3rd degree torture on commoners. Whereas against rich crooks , mafia you judges & police fail , lack spine to uphold law. You are zeroes before rich crooks , valor of judges , police is only before commoners. Still if you have little sense of duty take action on following PILs , previous appeals for justice by us , reply to our show cause notices , issue writ of mandamus to concerned public servants to give full truthful information to our following & previous RTI applications.
You have failed in your constitutional duties as Chief Justice of India. It will be better if you resign from judicial services immediately, it will be good for the society the nation as a whole. or else you can continue in service as a burden on the public exchequer , the society as some of previous CJIs did.
Still now also you can change your work style and sincerely do your duties upholding rule of law IMPARTIALLY. Please read the details at following web pages :
Justice Thakur RESIGN
Rot in judiciary is decades old. Honourable CJI sir , weeping is not right constitution of india has given you the authority , TAKE ACTION DO YOUR DUTY. People , History will remember you forever with respect. Anyway you are getting very good 5 star pay & perks , will also get decent pension after retirement from government. First forget about post retirement postings , discretionary allotment of sites , etc from government then you can work fearlessly. Both central & state governments are biggest litigants in the country , IAS babus make wrong application , interpretation of laws leading to litigations. Start by clearing the rotten eggs within the judiciary. When judiciary & police in a country strictly uphold law , work impartially that country surpasses even heaven.
Do remember on the D Day , in the Court of Almighty everybody CJI , Judges , prime ministers , common man alike has to bow his head. In who’s court there is no match fixing , no technicalities , no vociferous hi fi advocates , no bias based on caste , religion , region , community , etc , only straight simple account of wrongs & rights. Guess his judgement in your case. GOD BLESS US ALL.
Jai Hind. Vande Mataram.
Date : 07.07.2016………………..Your’s sincerely ,
Place : Mysuru………………………..Nagaraja.M.R.
Karnataka DySP hangs self after being suspended for kidnapping, extortion
Kalappa Handibag, deputy superintendent of police (DySP) of Chikkamagaluru Rural in Karnataka, committed suicide on Tuesday by hanging after he was suspended from duty for his alleged connection in the case of abduction and extortion of a financier.
Relatives of his wife, Vidya, claimed that Kallappa committed suicide around 8.30 a.m. when his wife was in the bathroom. He was subsequently rushed to the Muragod Primary Health Centre and then referred to KLE Hospital in Belagavi. However, doctors at the hospital declared him brought dead, as reported by the Hindu.
Handibag's suspension was issued after a departmental inquiry was ordered against him, following a complaint by 37-year-old resident of Kempanahalli, Thejas, who alleged that Kalappa was one of the six men who abducted him and tortured and extorted money from him.
As disclosed by Thejas in the FIR, he was picked up by a gang of six men around 2 a.m. on June 28 when he was parking the car near his house. He was shoved into a Scorpio (KA 20 N 3657) and taken to an old warehouse in Bengaluru, where he was thrashed by the gangsters who also demanded a ransom of Rs. 25 lakh.
The gangsters told Thejas that he was being punished for duping people through his chit fund business and cricket betting. Thejas negotiated the ransom down to Rs. 10 lakh and called his friend identified as Shivu or Pavan to follow the kidnapper's instructions and deliver the money.
Thejas's friend was then given a mobile number (9480805120) and a voice from the other line asked him to deliver the cash to the police quarters behind Mathias Tower on IG Road. Thejas was eventually freed.
DySP Handibag's role came to light after Thejas and his friend used the car's registration number and the mobile number to investigate the kidnapping. Thejas's friend also recorded the mobile conversation with Handibag, according to a report by the Times of India.
Covert op on Dawood compromised by some Mumbai cops: RK Singh
Noting that Dawood and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed were protected by Pakistani forces, Singh said a secret operation must be carried out in the manner the United States did to kill terrorists Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar.
India had planned a covert operation to take down underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, but the operation was compromised by some Mumbai Police officials. These are the explosive revelations made by former Home Secretary and now BJP leader RK Singh in an interview to Seedhi Baat on Aaj Tak.
RK Singh revealed details of how corrupt elements of the Mumbai Police foiled a secret operation to take down Dawood. The operation was launched when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister and current NSA Ajit Doval was at the IB. Indian government had roped in some elements from the Chota Rajan gang and they were being trained at a secret location outside Maharashtra. But Mumbai Police officials who were in touch with D-company landed up at the training camp with arrest warrants for the covert operatives who had been engaged by India. The entire operation to take down Dawood failed due to these rogue elements in Mumbai police. This is the first time that there is confirmation of a botched covert operation to take down Dawood by someone who has held a position of authority.
Noting that Dawood and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed were protected by Pakistani forces, Singh said a secret operation must be carried out in the manner the United States did to kill terrorists Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar. He added that Pakistan will never admit that Dawood is in Pakistan. Similarly, it will shamelessly deny the presence of other terrorists despite funding and training these terror groups on its soil. "India must repeat the Myanmar operation in Pakistan," he maintained. He added if one operation fails, the government shouldn't be disheartened but launch another operation right away.
Singh said Modi's advisors are not giving him the right advice on this issue. "Nothing will be achieved by handing over dossiers to Pakistan. It is globally recognised as a snake pit. We can't depend on the US to fight India's battles. India has to fight its own enemies," Singh added.
Singh also said the neighbouring country needs to be wise and avert a possible war by not shielding a terrorist. "Pakistan has to calculate the cost of a war. I don't think Pakistan is such a big fool that it would engage in a war with India," he said. "If America sees any threat from Pakistan, it will act. Similarly, Israel can kill its enemies. We need to develop this mentality," he added. The retired bureaucrat revealed that specially-trained private security men comprising mostly ex-army men protect Dawood in Pakistan under the supervision of the ISI. Singh exuded confidence that Modi's visit to the UAE would yield desirable results. He did acknowledge though that Dawood still has significant influence in Dubai.
Coming down heavily on Pakistan, Singh said India must stop dialogue with its neighbor and instead deal with the situation in a strategic manner. "India must hit back in a way that hurts Pakistan the most," he said while suggesting that the dialogue process only helps Pakistan restore credibility which it has lost all over the world. "Pakistan believes in a constant war with India. We have the capability to hit back hard. Any dialogue with Pakistan is futile. For a discredited country like Pakistan, dialogue process is an opportunity to regain its credibility and strike parity with India," Singh said. He said the elected government in the neighbouring country had no control over its military force and the ISI.
Singh lauded the central government's firm stand on separatists in Kashmir. He said the Pakistani government was using separatists to claim in international platform that it has the support of a section of people in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government has done the right thing by not talking to separatists, he said.
Lottery Scam: Retired IPS officer who introduced Alok Kumar to Pari Rajan was major beneficiary
An IPS officer who retired in 2010 is said to be the major beneficiary of the single-digit lottery racket that was unearthed recently. If sources are to be believed then it is this retired officer who had held several positions in the Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate, who introduced the kingpin of the lottery racket, Pari Rajan, to fellow IPS officer Alok Kumar.
The investigation carried out by the CID has indicated that the retired IPS officer was one of the biggest beneficiaries in the scam and his name figured in the list of 12 serving/ retired IPS officers whom the CID intended to summon for interrogation, the sources said.
Alok Kumar, too, is said have disclosed the name of the officer, when he was grilled by the CID on Sunday.
There are also reports that Rajan, a native of KGF was into hawala transactions and this was a major reason why many officers had links with him.
The suspicion is that Rajan used his contacts with the police top brass to ensure a safe hawala transaction. Hawala operators considered Bengaluru as a safe transit point and it had a well-oiled network.
With the CBI probe being ordered, there are possibilities of various aspects relating to lottery scam and hawala business to come out.
The Excise and Lottery Enforcement Cell was set up immediately after the ban on the lottery business in 2007.
For the first two years, the cell had no station or power to arrest. One of the senior officers, who was in the Enforcement Cell between 2007 and 2010, said that until 2011 there wasn’t much illegal lottery business reported from across the State.
“Matka and single-number lottery were very much in existence, but they used to be handled by the respective district police. As far as lottery was concerned, there was no case registered at least till 2009-10,” an official said.
Two More Senior Cops Involved In Racket, Says Kumaraswamy
with Pari Rajan. The police have recently arrested Rajan in connection with the scam. Arun Chakravarthy, who was IGP, Lottery Squad, prior to Agrawal, had also taken bribe, he charged. According to Kumaraswamy, 30 to 40 senior police officers, including many IPS officers, are involved in the scam. Despite a TV channel conducting a sting operation in March this year, the government took no action for two months. During this period, the ruling party MLC took Pari Rajan and Matrin to the son of the influential person to strike a deal. When Martin and Rajan refused to pay Rs 100 crore, the scam gradually came out in the open, he said. Paying hafta The JD(S) leader said suspended police officer Dharanesh (who was then Superintendent of Police, Lottery Squad, southern range) and Pari Rajan had been paying hafta (bribe) to a minister in the Siddaramaiah ministry. Dharanesh was recently suspended in connection with the lottery scam. The officer wanted to continue in the post. The then Superintendent of Police, Lottery Squad, northern range, Chandrakanth was trying to get the post held by Dharanesh, he said. "The chief minister and Home Minister K J George should now disclose the name of the minister who was collecting the hafta. He should tell why Pari Rajan was not arrested all these days." Simmering differences He said the scam emerged due to the simmering differences among the police officers in sharing the bribe money paid by the mafia. Two cases filed initially in KGF in connection with the illegal lottery sale were fake and they were only meant to cover up the scam, he added. Later speaking to the media after the chief minister's decision to refer the scam to the CBI, Kumaraswamy said the government should get ready to face more embarrassment. However, he welcomed the decision to refer the racket to the CBI. Scam chronicle, according to HDK A constable in Kolar, Manjunath, was regularly taking bribe from Pari Rajan during June or July 2014. Rajan stopped giving him money after he developed contacts among higher-ups. Manjunath informs about illegal activities of Rajan to Singh, a head constable with anti-lottery squad. Singh, brings the matter to the notice of Ramappa Guttedar, the inspector of the squad. When questioned, Rajan he offers big money as bribe. Then he takes these policemen to Chennai where they meet one Martin, one of the key operators. Martin gives Rs 40 lakh as bribe and the three policemen sincerely inform about it to lottery squad SP Dharanesh and IGP Arun Chakravarthy. All the policemen share the money: Manjunath and Singh get Rs two lakh each, Ramappa gets Rs five lakh and the rest was shared by Dharanesh and Chakravarthy. Upset with the small share they got, Manjunath and Singh inform about the illegality to northern range SP Chandrakanth. Chandrakanth tries to get the post held by Dharanesh but fails. He then helps a TV news channel to conduct a sting operation. Six cases referred to CBI by Siddaramaiah government Misappropriation of over Rs nine crore by the officials of Ramanagaram-Channapatna Urban Development Authority with the support of bank officials in 2013. Misuse of over Rs five crore by the officials of Mandya Urban Development n Authority with the help of banks in 2013. Officers of many nationalised banks were said to be involved in the irregularity. Rape and murder of Sowjanya, a 17-year-old pre-university course student of SDM College, Ujire in Dakshina Kannada, on October 9, 2012. The theft of 12 historic idols from Siddhanta Darshan Block of a Jain Basadi at Moodbidri in September 2013. Death of IAS officer D K Ravi in April, 2015. Single-digit lottery scam. H D Kumaraswamy, JD(S) leader: The chief minister and Home Minister K J George should now disclose the name of the minister who was collecting the hafta. He should tell why Pari Rajan was not arrested all these days.
DGP son has links with Lokayukta scam accused kin
State police chief Omprakash’s son, Karthikesh Omprakash, has business relations with the kin of N Narasimha Murthy, a clerk at the State police headquarters, who has been arrested by the SIT probing the Lokayukta corruption scam.
Documents available with the Deccan Herald show that Murthy's brother-in-law Ashwath and Karthikesh are partners in a quarrying and crusher unit in Ramanagara. Incidentally, a complaint by the villagers of Hanchikuppe in Ramanagara district against this quarrying firm for violation of rules is still pending before the Upalokayukta.
The application for quarrying and stone crushing unit was filed in the name of Karthikesh in 2009. The Mining Licence (Number 1354 and 1353) was issued in favour of the firm Magadi Quarry and Crusher, owned by Karthikesh and Ashwath. Around five acres of gomala land at Hanchikuppe was allotted to the firm.
When villagers objected to the quarrying unit within the prescribed safe zone, a proceeding by the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner held on March 1, 2013 relaxed certain conditions. The area was declared as safe zone. The same day, based on the recommendation of the DC, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board accorded certification for the safe zone. The decision was so fast that both the offices passed orders in favour of a quarry owner in just one day, the documents reveal. Despite this, the Tahshildar had submitted a report that the unit fell within 500 metres of residential area, which is not permissable under Karnataka Regulation of Stone Crushers Act, 2011.
The Hanchikuppe villagers had also filed a PIL in the High Court. The court dismissed the petition on the grounds that since the villagers are the concerned parties a PIL cannot be entertained. The villagers also filed a complaint before the Upalokayukta (Compt/Uplok/BD/459/2011) and the next date of hearing is September 23, 2015.
On the day Omprakash took charge as DG&IGP, Loksatta Party had complained to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that he had prima facie misused his position to get clearances for the unit owned by his son.
When contacted, Omprakash said that it was a personal business issue of his son. Asked if he is aware of his son's business partnership with the brother-in-law of a clerk in his office, the DG&IGP answered in the negative.
“You have to ask this question to my son. He may have a business relationship with a private person. Moreover, if it is illegal, let the law take its own course,'' he said.
Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao’s son held in ‘extortion’ racket
The arrest of Ashwin Rao was made in Hyderabad, as the SIT, formed to probe the alleged racket that has also led to clamour for the resignation of Bhaskar Rao, intensified the investigation
A special investigation team (SIT) of Karnataka police, which is probing an extortion racket in the state Lokayukta, Monday arrested Ashwin Rao, son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao and the prime accused in the case.
Ashwin was arrested from Kukatpally near Hyderabad.
“On Monday morning, we picked up Ashwin from his residence,”a senior SIT official said. An advocate for Ashwin, who moved an anticipatory bail plea in a special Lokayukta court after his client was detained, was informed in court by the SIT investigating officer Labhu Ram about the arrest.
Ashwin is prime accused in an extortion case filed by a government executive engineer, M N Krishnamurthy, who has alleged that Ashwin demanded a Rs 1 crore bribe from him to prevent initiation of corruption proceedings against him.
The SIT, however, informed the special court Monday that Ashwin had not been arrested in connection with Krishnamurthy’s complaint, but in a fresh extortion complaint against him by P B Channabasappa, a government executive engineer involved with the Upper Tunga irrigation project in Haveri district.
“It is not clear how the arrest could have happened in the second FIR because the SIT was in Hyderabad early on Monday and the second FIR was filed around 10.30 am. The anticipatory bail plea in the Krishnamurthy case is still valid if the arrest is in the second case. The SIT has been asked to file objections to the anticipatory bail plea,” Ashwin’s advocate Sandeep Patil said.
SIT sources indicated that Ashwin would be placed under arrest in the Krishnamurthy case as well after he is brought to Bengaluru Tuesday.
The SIT has so far arrested five people in connection with the case.
The alleged racket had multiple layers, with one group filing RTIs to identify allegedly corrupt persons as targets, a second group calling up officials and summoning them to the Lokayukta offices, and a third group allegedly demanding money to prevent initiation of cases against them.
On Sunday, the SIT had arrested the public relations officer in the Lokayukta, Syed Riyazatullah, a police officer of the rank of joint commissioner, on charges of extortion and cheating.
Riyazatullah was produced in court Monday and remanded in SIT custody till August 5. The court overruled his bail plea, saying there was need for effective investigation in the case.
Karnataka extortion case: Lokayukta’s son part of larger conspiracy, says SIT
Ashwin Rao alias Yerabati Ashwin has been arrested by a SIT in connection with an attempt to extort money from a government official in the Lokayukta.
The SIT in its objections has stated that Ashwin Rao “misused the premises and office of the Lokayukta and meeting hall adjacent to the chambers of PRO of Lokayukta” as part of the alleged extortion conspiracy.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which arrested Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Rao in an extortion case stated on Monday that he is a prominent member of a larger conspiracy.
Ashwin Rao alias Yerabati Ashwin has been arrested by a SIT in connection with an attempt to extort money from a government official in the Lokayukta. The SIT objected to an anticipatory bail plea filed by Ashwin Rao to pre-empt his arrest in a second extortion case.
The SIT in its objections has stated that Ashwin Rao “misused the premises and office of the Lokayukta and meeting hall adjacent to the chambers of PRO of Lokayukta” as part of the alleged extortion conspiracy. The call detail records obtained during investigations “clearly establishes” that Rao was in constant touch with three other key accused in the extortion racket – middlemen V Bhaskar and Ashok Kumar and Lokayukta PRO Syed Riyazathullah, the SIT has stated.
According to the SIT, though Ashwin Rao has been arrested only in connection with an extortion attempt on one government official, his arrest in a second case is likely at any time. “Considering the fact that petitioner is the son of the Hon’ble Lokayukta and he is in a position to wield influence on the prosecution witnesses he in not entitled to anticipatory bail,” the SIT has argued. The SIT has also claimed to have unearthed incriminating material against Ashwin Rao in the course of a search of his house in Hyderabad.
While a case was initially registered against Ashwin Rao and others for summoning Bengaluru Urban district executive engineer M N Krishnamurthy to the Lokayukta office on May 4, 2015 to place a demand for a bribe of Rs one crore to prevent initiation of Lokayukta corruption proceedings the son of the Lokayukta was eventually arrested by the SIT in connection with another case registered on the basis of a complaint by an irrigation department engineer PB Channabasappa who alleged that Ashwin Rao and others demanded Rs 20 lakh to make a Lokayukta corruption case go away.
The SIT has in other statements of objection to bail applications said that cell tower analysis had revealed that three of the middlemen, including realtor Ashok Kumar who allegedly made the telephone call summoning executive engineer Krishnamurthy to the Lokayukta office were together on May 4 when the government official was called to the Lokayukta’s office. The trio of middlemen were also frequently in touch with the Lokayukta PRO and Justice Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Rao, the SIT has stated.
The SIT also informed the special Lokayukta court that middlemen Ashok Kumar and Shankare Gowda, and Lokakyukta PRO Riyazathullah had destroyed crucial evidence including some SIM cards and mobile handsets used in the conspiracy.
Gali Reddy cash-for-bail scam nets two more Andhra judges
More skeletons are tumbling out of the closet in the cash-forbail scam involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.
On Thursday, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) arrested two more judges who allegedly made parallel attempts to secure bail for the mining baron in the Obulapuram Mining Company's illegal mining case.
The two judges - D. Prabhakar Rao, a family court judge in Srikakulam and K. Lakshminarasimha Rao, the chief judge of the city small causes court, were taken into custody by the agency from their respective residences in Hyderabad.
While Prabhakar Rao was suspended by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on July 6, Lakshminarasimha Rao was suspended late on Wednesday, after the ACB probe unearthed his role in the scam.
The ACB authorities are questioning him. The ACB had already arrested suspended CBI special court judge Talluri Pattabhirama Rao, who had allegedly received a bribe for granting bail to the former Karnataka minister on May 11.
Retired judge T.V. Chalapathi Rao, who mediated in the cash-for-bail deal, has also been arrested. Pattabhi's son Ravichandra, rowdy sheeter-turned-realtor P. Yadagiri Rao and realtor Ravi Suryaprakash Babu were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
According to the ACB sources, the former Karnataka minister and mining baron had approached Pattabhi through two different routes: one involving Chalapathi Rao and Yadagiri; and the other through Lakshminarasimha Rao and Prabhakar Rao.
While Yadagiri offered Rs5 crore to Pattabhi, Prabhakar offered to strike the deal for Rs10 crore. However, Pattabhi preferred Yadagiri's offer because it was a safer deal as Chalapathi happened to be his friend.
Janardhan Reddy was arrested on September 5, 2011, by the CBI. He is accused of being involved in the illegal mining and export of iron ore in Bellary and Anantapur.
Rs 100cr offered for Gali Janardhan Reddy’s bail: Arrested judge
More skeletons are tumbling out in the murky cash-for-bail scam involving mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy as a lower court judge, arrested in the case, disclosed to the ACB that Gali's men were ready to offer as much as a staggering Rs 100 crore to secure bail for him. Earlier, the deal amount was put at Rs 15 crore.
T Lakshminarasimha Rao, the arrested judge, disclosed that Dasaradharami Reddy, a relative of Gali, had made the Rs 100 crore offer, according to the confession statement recorded by the ACB. Krishna Prasad, an auditor, who is known to him and another relative M Venkateswara Rao approached Lakshminarasimha Rao in the second week of April with a request to look for a `channel' to influence the CBI judge for Gali's release on bail. "They were in touch with Dasaradharami Reddy who was willing to pay even Rs 100 crore for securing the bail," the confession statement of Rao said. Though the deal initially came as a shock to the arrested judge, who at the time was registrar (enquiries), high court, he was later attracted towards the deal, it said.
Lakshminarasimha Rao called the CBI court judge B Nagamaruti Sarma to his residence on April 18 and tried to convince him on granting of bail to Gali. Sarma did not agree for the deal and went away rejecting the offer. He had, in fact, dismissed the bail plea. Then another person Raavi Surya Prakash Babu, a real estate dealer, who was taken to Bellary MLA Sriramulu by his associate Kolli Lakshmaiah Chowdary for striking the deal, approached Rao again. Surya Prakash had already met Sriramulu's nephew and Kampli MLA T H Suresh Babu who, too, was trying to secure bail for Gali and advised him to wait as Nagamaruti Sarma was not of 'their type'. But he requested Lakshminarasimha Rao to keep the `channel' open as the deal was "too lucrative to be ignored".
Later, in a strange sequence of events, Nagamaruti Sarma was shifted out of CBI court and a fresh bail plea was filed which came before another special judge T Pattabhirama Rao. Lakshminarasimha Rao roped in Pattabhi's batchmate D Prabhakar Rao, another district judge, who was with the state election commission as its secretary (legal). He also tried to push the deal but failed as Pattabhi told him that he would decide the matter on only `merit'. It turned out later that Pattabhi chose a 'route' planned by his friend Chalapati though the deal was only for Rs 5 crore. This was mainly because his friend did not put any precondition that he should meet Gali Somasekhara Reddy, brother of Gali Janardhana Reddy, before giving bail as was done by Prabhakar Rao, who was also arrested in the case. Prabhakar in his confession spoke of only Rs 15 core implying that he too was unaware of the whopping Rs 100-crore deal. While the ACB arrested Lakshminarasimha Rao on July 12, Pattabhi was arrested last month.
Interestingly, the ACB sleuths seized some cheques bearing the names of Lakshminarasimha Rao's family members with some complaint letters written by advocates against some AP high court judges. The letters were addressed to the President of India.
Cash-for-bail scam: CBI Judge Pattabhi Rama Rao arrested
In a case of corruption seeping into the lawmakers psyche, the Andhra Pradesh anti-Corruption bureau arrested Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge Justice Pattabhi Rama Rao in the cash-for-bail scam. He was suspended after the allegations surfaced that he accepted a bribe of Rs 6 crore to grant bail to mining baron Janardhana Reddy in the illegal mining case. Raids were earlier carried out in Rao's residence and the arrest is the third in the case. Rao was hearing the case related to the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) scam. Retired district judge T V Chalapathi Rao and Pattabhirama Rao's son Ravichandra was also questioned by ACB sleuths. Pattabhirama and Chalapathi were classmates at A C College of Law in Guntur and the latter allegedly brokered the multi-crore bribe. On a tip off that a deal has been struck between Reddy and the judge, the CBI had earlier recovered a cash of nearly Rs 1.80 crore from a bank locker here, the keys of which were allegedly in Ravichandra's possession.
300 Delhi lower-court judges under probe in laptop scam
Nearly 300 Delhi lower-court judges are under the scanner of the high court for alleged financial irregularities in purchase of computers and laptops from funds provided by the Delhi government and Delhi high court in 2013.
A high-level panel comprising three HC judges has been set up by chief justice of Delhi high court Justice G Rohini to look into how the money was spent by each of these judges. The panel will scrutinize documents submitted by the judges on purchase of these items.
Under the scheme, each judge was sanctioned Rs 1.1 lakh for upgrading their computer infrastructure. The idea was to give the judges the freedom to opt for computers, laptops or iPads so that their efficiency in disposal of cases improves.
Sources told TOI that the probe panel has issued memos to judicial officers under the scanner, asking for detailed explanation on the manner in which they spent the money.
"All judges were initially under probe but the panel has now zeroed in on roughly 300 officers against whom preliminary discrepancies have been found. The focus is on correctness of the utilization certificate given by them to HC relating to the purchases," said an authoritative source.
"It has emerged some may have bought TVs or home theatre systems out of the sanctioned sum instead of computers," the source added.
The irregularities came to light during a routine vigilance inquiry conducted by court officials. When the evidence was shown to the chief justice and other senior judges including the computer committee, it set alarm bells ringing.
Taking a serious view of alleged financial misdemeanours by city court judges, Justice G Rohini set up a panel comprising justices Vipin Sanghi, Rajiv Shakdher and VK Rao to conduct a swift but wide ranging inquiry.
In response to the memos issued by the panel, sources said, many judges have sent detailed replies with annexures explaining what was purchased and even showing debit/credit details from their official bank accounts that tally with the date of purchase. Details of vendors have also been provided which is being checked individually.
"Since there was no specification of how much money is to be used for maintenance of the new equipment, the panel is likely to give a leeway of Rs 10,000-15,000 that may have been kept reserved for annual maintenance charges by a judge. But beyond that, the charges if proved, may lead to the guilty judge's dismissal from service because financial fraud or providing forged certificates is a very serious crime," the source pointed out.
The Delhi government had extended a similar scheme for its bureaucracy. City bureaucrats were empowered to buy computers and related equipment out of the sum allocated.
`Copy cat' judges suspended by HC
Five judges belonging to the state's subordinate judiciary were suspended by the AP High Court on Wednesday for allegedly copying while writing their LLM examinations at the Arts College of Kakatiya University in Warangal on Tuesday.
The judges were doing this course under distance mode from Kakatiya University as the degree would help them gain some increments in their careers.
Those placed under suspension include K Ajitsimha Rao, senior civil judge, Ranga Reddy district, M Kistappa, principal senior civil judge, Anantapur, P Vijayendar Reddy, second additional district judge, Ranga Reddy district, M Srinivasachary, senior civil judge in Bapatla of Guntur district and Hanumantha Rao, the additional junior civil judge in Warangal.
They were allegedly caught red-handed in the act of copying on Tuesday by the authorities and upon receipt of this information, the HC suspended them from service pending an inquiry. The HC would soon launch disciplinary proceedings against all these judicial officers, sources said.
DSP among six held on charge of hunting deer
Forest Department authorities on Friday arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID), Mysore, T.K. Dharmesh and five others for allegedly hunting down a spotted deer in the Omkara forest range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR).
The carcass of the male deer with a bullet injury was found in Naganapura third block in the forest range, according to Forest Department sources.
They said the Forest staff saw the accused in the forest range during routine patrolling early on Friday and took them into their custody. They later combed the area and found the deer carcass. Senior Forest officers rushed to the spot on getting the information and conducted investigation.
“The deer carcass had entry and exit bullet wound. The post-mortem was performed and the viscera samples have been preserved,” the sources said. A case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has been booked against the accused.
The names of other accused were given as Manjaiah, Raghu, Hanif, Atiq and Farid.
“A .303 service rifle and a multi-utility vehicle used for committing the alleged offence have been seized from the accused,” the sources said. Repeated attempts to contact the Forest officers investigating the case went in a vain.
When contacted, D. Rajkumar, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Mysore district confirmed that six persons, including Mr. Dharmesh, were arrested on charges of alleged killing of deer. “The deer was found hunted with a service rifle,” he said.
Raid on bus: Six police officers charged with dacoity
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has chargesheeted six police officials and some other private persons in the infamous inter-State dacoity case of Rs 2.27 crore from a Kerala-bound bus in Yelwala police station limits in Mysore in January this year. The chargesheet was submitted in the jurisdictional court in Mysore after the Department obtained government permission to prosecute the accused police officials – the then sub inspector C.D. Jagadish, four constables – Satish, Manohar, Ravi and Latif of Mysore South police station and Prakash and the gunman of the then Southern range Inspector General of Police Ramchandra Rao under Sections 395 (dacoity) and 120A (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
Rao, who was transferred after he came under scanner for his alleged involvement in the crime, does not figure in the chargesheet. “There is no legal admissible evidence against the then IGP or the then deputy superintendent of Police (Mysore rural) Srihari Baragur. The investigation is however on and it will be early to come to any conclusion,” said an official source. He added that it is a complex case because there are no independent witnesses.
A Kerala-bound bus carrying about Rs 2.27 crore of four jewelers was ‘raided’ by the police in Yelawala police station limits in Mysore on January 4, who seized six bags of cash from inside the bus and arrested the driver and the cleaner of the bus for “illegal” transportation of cash.
The police showed a recovery of Rs. 20 lakh, but the Kerala jewelers told their Home Minister that the amount was around Rs. 2.27 crore. “There is no clinching evidence on the exact amount, which was reportedly being transported in the bus. We can only surmise from the statements of the victims and the accused,” added the officer.
Rs 2.26-crore theft by cop: IGP, DySP under scanner
CID focuses on duo after gunman, informant confesses
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Karnataka Police is thoroughly probing the alleged roles of K Ramachandra Rao, Inspector General of Police (southern range) and Srihari Baragur, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mysore rural), in the sensational Rs 2.26-crore robbery that took place on a Kerala-bound bus at Yelawala, Mysore, on January 4 this year. The needle of suspicion pointed strongly towards the duo following a confession by Rao's gunman, Prakash, who was arrested by the CID on Tuesday along with three informants.
Statements made by the arrested gunman and the informants in their confessions indicate that the plundered loot was shared between the IGP and DySP. According to highly placed sources, Prakash and one of the three informants, gave minute-by-minute accounts to the CID sleuths about the robbery that occurred two months ago.
"We have recorded their confession statements. Before laying our hands on the IGP and DySP, we need to collect further corroborative evidence. At this juncture, we can neither rule out their involvement nor give them a clean chit," a top-ranking CID official, who is part of the investigating team, told Bangalore Mirror.
However, when BM spoke to IGP K Ramachandra Rao, he denied all the allegations. "I am not aware of what Prakash has said in his statements to the police. He is in the CID's custody, and they are conducting a detailed probe. Let them come out with the truth," he said.
METICULOUSLY EXECUTED
The meticulously executed robbery unfolded on the night of January 4, as a group of policemen led by Mysore South SI, C D Jagadish, stopped a bus that was en route to Kerala from Bangalore, near Yelawala on the Mysore-Hunsur state highway. They later diverted the bus to a road near Yelawala police station and took out six bags containing hard cash from its luggage compartment. The driver and cleaners of the bus were taken into custody and a case slapped against them for ferrying large amounts of cash illegally. But the cops showed a recovery amount of a mere Rs 20 lakh, whereas the actual amount was Rs 2.26 crore.
The cash belonged to four Kerala-based jewellers who had reportedly selected the bus to transport it from Bangalore to Kerala. It is alleged that they had taken the owner and the driver of the bus into confidence in order to ferry the cash.
The jewellers, to whom the cash belonged, got the shock of their lives when they found out that the Yelawala police had stopped the bus and booked a case against the driver and cleaners, showing a paltry sum of Rs 20 lakh as recovery.
Upon making enquiries, they learnt that the remaining Rs 2.06 crore had been pocketed by the policemen themselves. The agitated jewellers proceeded to get in touch with Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who personally knows Karnataka Home Minister K J George. Chennithala brought the matter to the notice of George, who was reportedly infuriated with what had happened. He immediately informed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — who hails from Mysore — of the incident.
ENRAGED CM SUMMONS DGP
An enraged Siddaramaiah and George are then said to have summoned State Police Chief Lalrokhuma Pachau and asked him to get the matter examined. Pachau got in touch with IGP Rao, and subsequently, a case was taken up. But the top brass smelled a rat during the investigation, and a CID investigation was ordered.
The CID sleuths conducted a methodical investigation for a month before laying their hands on the IGP's gunman, Prakash, and his gang of informants. Investigation by the CID also revealed that Prakash resorted to these kinds of crimes involving Kerala jewellers regularly over the past two years. He had allegedly taken the help of DySP Srihari Baragur, and other policemen, to conduct false raids and clean out cash. In the past, the gang had looted small amounts running into a few lakh. But since the amount involved now was a staggering Rs 2.26 crore, the jewellers mustered the courage to lodge a complaint.
"The crime does not stop with the gunman. It appears that they got support from higher-ups. It is here we are examining the involvement (if any) of Prakash's boss Rao, DySP Baragur, and other seniors," the officer added. After the matter reached the CM's table, the culprits tried to reach a compromise with the jewellers by offering to return the money. This, however, failed to go through because some of the policemen had taken large amounts of cash with them, and had subsequently gone absconding, said the CID police. The absconding policemen, four in number, are not be confused with the three informants.
Additional Director General of Police (CID) P K Garg said, "The IGP's gunman, Prakash, was arrested two days ago. So far, we have arrested four persons whom we are questioning and whose statements we are recording. The money is yet to be recovered. We believe that the cash is with the absconding policemen, and we have laid a manhunt for the four policemen, whose names and ranks I cannot reveal."
According to sources, Prakash and his gang shared the booty among themselves, the informants, and senior police officers. The informants said they got around Rs 20 lakh as their cut, but claimed the rest is with policemen of different ranks.
edited , printed , published & owned by NAGARAJA.M.R. @ : LIG-2 / 761 , HUDCO FIRST STAGE , OPP WATER WORKS OFFICE , LAKSHMIKANTANAGAR ,HEBBAL ,MYSORE -570017 INDIA
cell : 91 8970318202
home page:
A Member of Amnesty International
