Price of honesty: ACB SP shunted to dud' post

Bengaluru: The sudden transfer of Anti-Corruption Bureau Superintendent of Police S. Girish from the vigilance and enforcement wing to the administration wing in the bureau has come as a surprise to many. His transfer was effected a day after he raided four senior government officers, who are said to be close to their political bosses, including CM Siddaramaiah.

Instead of supporting Mr Girish, the government has shunted him out to the administration wing, which has no powers to conduct raids on corrupt officials, police officers said. The transfer has been done at the behest of chief minister because of political pressure, they said. It has come under severe criticism as it aims to clip the wings of an honest and upright officer, against whom there were no complaints. He has earned a good name wherever he has worked before.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Girish had exposed the oil mafia in Panambur, for which he had won the accolades of not only citizens but also from elected representatives cutting across party lines. He is known to be a tough officer who does not yield to pressure from politicians or department heads. He was awarded the chief minister's medal three years ago. Later, he was posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Traffic in Bengaluru. Officers, who worked under him, said that Mr Girish is a simple man, who brings packed lunch to office. He worked in the Lokayukta for a long time and had won the appreciation of the Lokayukta.

But he got into trouble after he raided four officers, K.S. Yatish kumar, additional commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, N. Raghupathy, tahsildar of Ramanagar, H. Nagesh, director, KPTCL, and Ramakrishna Reddy, superintendent, Directorate of Technical Education, last week. One of the raided officials is said to be close to ministers and the chief minister and pressured them to transfer Mr Girish. Within 24 hours of the raid, Mr Siddaramaiah reportedly gave directions to shift Mr Girish to the ACB administration wing.

It has come as a rude shock to several elected representatives, who had appreciated his dedication to work. They have now demanded that Mr Girish should be transferred back to the vigilance and enforcement wing to bring down corruption in the government machinery. Now the ball was is in the court of chief minister, who regularly talks about eliminating corruption in government departments.