Dr G Parameshwar's exit as HM had put Praveen Sood on a sticky wicket

BENGALURU: Former commissioner of police, Bengaluru City Praveen Sood, who was ‘unceremoniously’ shunted out on Monday just seven months into his tenure as the head of the City police was not a casualty of his ‘action’ against pro-Kannada activists.

“It is too simplistic to put the blame on Sood’s action against some pro-Kannada activists, who were arrested for inking Hindi sign boards at Namma Metro stations and vandalizing public property. None of the 11 people, who were arrested under Section 153 A of the IPC for inciting enmity among people on grounds of religion, language and race etc, was remanded to judicial custody. They were produced before the local court and released immediately the same day,” said an official source.

“Sood’s predecessor N.S. Megharikh had taken a tougher stand against the arsonists in September 2016 Cauvery riots but he was not shown the door. Posting and transfer of IPS officers rests with the political executive (the Chief Minister) but the spade work is done by his trusted lieutenants – his political colleagues and aides and the push comes from known quarters,” he added.

Sood was allegedly removed on political grounds, as is most often the case in top level bureaucratic transfers. “The post of City Commissioner is more coveted than the State police chief’s post. Therefore, there are a lot of considerations, which go behind the posting of Bengaluru CP. If the officer doesn’t fit the bill (of the Chief Minister) he can be given marching orders even without prior information. Though there were sundry whispers that Sood may be transferred, they became stronger after the former Home Minister G Parameshwar resigned in June to focus on the Congress party affairs as the KPCC President. The hope was that Sood would be posted out on promotion in November after the superannuation of the incumbent DG&IGP R.K. Dutta. His posting is a clear violation of the fixed one year tenure as ensured by the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2012 for officers working in executive posts,” said an officer.

“What’s happening in the IPS transfer and postings is nothing short of contempt of the Supreme Court but who's complaining?” said the former DG&IGP R Srikumar.

CP didn't act against BJP netas?
It is also said that the chief minister was not happy with the way former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Praveen Sood handled a few important cases, in which the role of some BJP leaders was strongly suspected. “Starting from the attempt to murder case of APMC president and rowdy Kadabagere Seena to the recent case in which BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa’s PA’s attempt-to-kidnap case, some BJP leaders’ role was suspected. But the police had slowed down the investigations in these cases despite the CM himself directing for a speedy and impartial probe. This also added more reason to transfer Mr. Sood,” he said.