BENGALURU: IGP Alok Kumar, whose name prominently figured in the interim report submitted by the CID in connection with the lottery scam, was suspended by the state government on Saturday evening.
The stern decision came after Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee held a meeting with DG&IGP Om Prakash and other senior officers on Saturday evening. It is said that the government decided to suspend Mr Kumar, who was serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (West) in Bengaluru, after pressure mounted from various quarters to refer the case to the CBI. The suspension has also come as a stern warning to the police top brass, who join hands with anti-social elements.
Earlier, Dharanesh, who was serving as SP, Excise and Lottery Prohibition squad, was suspended as he allegedly had links with Paari Rajan, the kingpin of the scam. In the recently held senior police officers’ review meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had pulled up Mr Alok Kumar for his alleged involvement in the scam. Minutes after the suspension order was issued, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the officer was suspended based on the CID’s interim report.
“The report stated that circumstantial evidence established a close nexus between Mr Alok Kumar and Paari Rajan. It is also revealed in the investigation that Mr Alok Kumar had exerted pressure on a sub-inspector who went to arrest Rajan. The government will not spare any police official joining hands with anti-social elements and action will be taken against such officials mercilessly,” he warned.
Hitting out at former chief minister and JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy’s allegation that he had not initiated any action against SP Chandrakanth, who is allegedly involved in the scam, the chief minister said, “Mr Kumaraswamy is a big liar. Chandrakanth is not my relative and I won’t hesitate to take action against any officers if they are involved in criminal activities, be it my relative or from my caste.”
Additional charge for B.N.S. Reddy
As Mr Alok Kumar stands suspended, it is learnt that IGP B.N.S. Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration), has been given the additional responsibility of Additional Commissioner of Police (West).
Not only nexus with Rajan, Alok also interfered in CID probe
It’s not only his alleged nexus with the kingpin of the lottery scam, but also his alleged interference in the CID probe, that led to the suspension of IGP Alok Kumar. The government, in its order suspending the senior IPS officer, stated that Mr Alok Kumar not only helped Paari Rajan, but also interfered in the investigation process.
“Rajan was in direct contact with Mr Kumar and when efforts were made to arrest the accused by Prakash, Police Sub Inspector of Excise & Lottery Enforcement, KGF, Mr Kumar called Prakash between 11.30 am and noon over phone on April 28 and told him, ‘Take action as per law against the accused. He is known to me. Nothing should be done this way or that way’,” the suspension order stated.
“On April 30, Mr Kumar made another call through his office land line informing the police sub-inspector that, ‘The accused Rajan will come to KGF, do not search for him’. The CID report also reveals that as per the evidence collected, the conversation between Alok Kumar and Prakash has been confirmed. Rajan, during the CID investigation, revealed that on the basis of his acquaintance with Alok Kumar, he sought assistance when he was in trouble,” the order said.
“The DG & IGP has reported that it is unbecoming of a senior officer to assist in illegal activities of the accused,” the order stated. The government has also directed Mr Alok Kumar to not leave the headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the government.
I don’t know Rajan: Bidari
A day after IGP Alok Kumar denied allegations that he had a nexus with Paari Rajan, the kingpin of the lottery scam, retired DG & IGP Shankar Bidari challenged former chief ,inister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who has accused him of being involved in the scam, to either prove the charges or retire from politics.
“Mr Kumaraswamy has a grudge against me for a few reasons and that is why he is making these allegations. When I was the DGP of CID, former KPSC Chairman H.N. Krishna was arrested on charges of irregularities and malpractices in the selection of gazetted probationers during his tenure between 1998 and 2004. He was in jail for nearly 60 days. It did not go down well with Mr Kumaraswamy as Krishna was his family friend,” Mr Bidari said.
