For top cops pets, it’s not a dog’s life

Bengaluru: Chauffer driven luxury cars, uniformed security and ‘official’ privileges are not meant only for the men in uniform. The advantages enjoyed by top cops’ pets could give high end pet parlours a run for their money.

These privileged canines enjoy the same government royalties that these officials are entitled to! Deccan Chronicle found that Inspector-General of Police (Grievance and Human Rights) Kamal Pant’s pet dog is brought to Cubbon Park for his daily walk in an official, chauffeur-driven car, accompanied by the cop’s domestic help and a constable.

A Toyota Innova bearing the registration number KA 43 G 68 arrives at Cubbon Park every morning around 8 am.

After an hour-long walk, the eight-month-old Alsatian is taken back in the same official vehicle, which is meant for the IGP himself.  Walkers at Cubbon Park confirmed that the dog’s visits in the official police car are a daily affair.

Sometimes, Mr Pant comes in person as well, but it is usually the pet accompanied by a constable.

A regular walker, on condition of anonymity, said, “Initially, when we saw the car every day, we assumed it was a cop using an official car to go for a walk.

We soon realised that although a constable waits inside the car for nearly one hour, he isn’t catering to a superior officer so much as his pet! The Alsatian is a friendly dog and mingles with everybody.”

According to walkers, this doesn’t stop at Mr Pant’ dog; another DCP’s pet also enjoys the same official perks. Sources say that walkers have seen a police constable walking the DCP’s pet.

“The DCP, who also comes for a walk in his official car along with a uniformed police man, walks on his own, followed by his dog, which is accompanied by domestic help. On some occasions, we have seen a police constable walking the dog too,” said another walker.

Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association president S.Umesh confirmed that both the cops’ pets visited the park in official cars.

“It is an age old practice for government officials to use official cars but government rules don’t permit these benefits being used for personal work, Mr Pant, who sends his dog in the official car for walk, seems to have set a new benchmark for violating rules,” said Mr Umesh. “Shouldn’t the government rules apply to everybody equally?”