Top officers: R P Sharma taking a calculated risk in Karnataka

Bengaluru: There seems to be more than what meets the eye in ADGP Dr R.P. Sharma’s letter to Chief Secretary K. Rathna Prabha, asking for a meeting to discuss deteriorating law and order in the state.

At present, his letter is with the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms and DPAR Principal Secretary Ajay Jha is reportedly ascertaining the facts whether the contents of the letter have been approved by the executive body of the IPS Association of Karnataka.

However, senior officers, both serving and retired, who know Dr Sharma felt that he is a sharp strategist and a legal expert. “By making the contents of the letter public, the government has perhaps fallen into his trap," a former DG&IG, who refused to be identified, said. Dr Sharma might have prepared different plans and one should not underestimate his ability, a retired police chief said.

The timing of the letter assumes significance, observed a serving IPS officer. Dr Sharma through his letter might be preparing a pitch for the Election Commission of India to take note of the deteriorating law and order condition, when officers come under the EC’s ambit during the elections. 

“Since he raised politicisation of frequent transfers and attack on senior officers, this might be taken note of by the ECI. In effect, it may think of reshuffling the officers perceived to be close to the present dispensation. In 2016, after the pronouncement of calendar of events for the assembly elections, the ECI shunted out the then Kolkota city police commissioner. Since law and order cases reported in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, are severe and with the recent attack on the Lokayukta, the possibility of ECI going for a big reshuffle of officers at the highest level is not ruled out. If that comes through, officers like Dr Sharma and DGP H.C. Kishore Chandra may get plum posts," he explained.