Bengaluru: Shunted out top cop now forced to go on leave?

Bengaluru: Has the state government packed off Kudligi sub-division deputy superintendent of police, Anupama Shenoy, on compulsory leave for a fortnight soon after her transfer at the behest of district in-charge minister P.T. Parameshwara Naik?

While home minister Dr G Parameshwar did not take calls despite several requests sent through SMS for his reaction on the issue, Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash too could not be reached. Ever since the controversy over transfer of the woman officer for putting the minister’s call on hold,  Dr Parameshwar has been trying to avoid media persons and their questions on the issue.

On his part, CM  Siddaramaiah sought to play down the issue, saying transfers are administrative matters and the woman officer was transferred from Kudligi as she completed one year of service in Ballari district.” He, however, declined comment on Mr Naik bragging in public about the transfer of the officer for keeping his call on hold for a few seconds. Meanwhile, sources in Ballari district police told DC that she was asked to go on 'On Official Duty' (or compulsory leave) and her Hosapete counterpart was given additional charge of Kudligi sub-division but the woman officer opted for sick leave.

Sources in home department said she was perhaps under pressure to go on 'compulsory leave' for at least two weeks to avoid a major embarrassment to the state government.  The episode has already snowballed into a major controversy attracting the attention of the national media. Instead of clarifying the issue, the home minister was incommunicado, giving more room for suspicion.