Even when ADGP runs amok, Chief Minister only fumes

Bengaluru: After maintaining silence over the 'Clickgate Scandal' involving the former KSRP ADGP P. Ravindranath and after protesting KSRP men held the city to ransom on Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said his government will not tolerate "any indiscipline" by government officials.

“The state government expects its officials, particularly the police, to maintain decorum in public,” he said.

Despite the tough talk, the state government continued to treat Mr Ravindranath with kid gloves, posting him to the DG&IGP's office. The official circles were abuzz that the senior IPS officer could be sent to the Railways Department.

Mr Siddaramaiah denied that the state government failed to handle the situation. "It was an incident that happened in a coffee shop. A complaint was registered and the CID is investigating it. The state government has done what it could in this case. As soon as we get the CID report, we will take action," he shot back.

Home Minister K.J. George said clicking a woman's photograph in a restaurant allegedly by Mr Ravindranath was per se misconduct as per the All India Service Conduct Rules. But the minister was not clear on the action that would be initiated against the ADGP.

Mr George said that strict action would be taken against the KSRP men if they continued to protest against Mr Ravindranath's transfer.

On Friday Mr Ravindranath went to his successor - ADGP, N.S. Megharikh's office, which is located in the DG&IGP's office and asked how he took charge of the post, when he had not handed it over to him. Megharikh explained that he took over the charge after the government order was issued and that there was no aberration. After a brief discussion, Ravindranath left and later signed the charge transfer certificate (CTC).