BENGALURU: The state government has transferred five IPS officers, including suspended IGP Alok Kumar. C.H. Pratap Reddy, who was IGP in the CID, has been posted as the city’s Additional Commissioner of Police (West), which was lying vacant after Mr Kumar’s suspension for his alleged involvement in the lottery scam.
Mr Reddy is known as an honest and upright officer in the police circles. A 1991-batch IPS officer, he was the Director of Cyber Security, Nasscom a few years ago. He also has the experience of serving in CBI Bengaluru and had headed the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Mumbai.
Interestingly, Mr. Reddy, who was IGP in Internal Security Division (ISD), was transferred to the CID just two months ago, in March. He had replaced IGP Pronab Mohanty, who was transferred to the Lokayukta. The state’s move to transfer Mr. Mohanty from CID had drawn criticism, as the order was made just hours after the mysterious death case of IAS officer was referred to the CID.
Mr Reddy, however, will not have a long stint in the city, as he is due for a promotion to the rank of ADGP in the beginning of next year. Meanwhile, suspended IGP Alok Kumar has been transferred to the Internal Security Division (ISD). Mr Kumar, however, cannot take charge in the new posting as he is still under suspension and an inquiry is pending against him. He will be allowed to assume charge only after the suspension order is revoked.
The government has also transferred IGP (Administration) K.V. Sharath Chandra to the post of IGP, CID, replacing Mr Reddy. SP of Chamarajanagar district S. Rangaswamy has been posted as Deputy Commandant General of Home Guards & Ex-Officio Deputy Director of Civil Defence, Bengaluru. Commandant of KSRP First Batttalion, Kuldeep Kumar R. Jain, will replace Mr Rangaswamy.
CBI yet to start probe
CBI officials are yet to take up the probe into the lottery scam. As per formalities, the request sent by the state government to investigate the scam has to be notified by the Department of Personnel and Training.
Only after this, will the CBI start the probe. It is expected to start the probe in a week. Sources in the CID said that they continued to probe the scam, though it has been transferred to the CBI. “We have got instructions from the government to probe into the case till the CBI starts its investigation and we are doing it. However, the investigations are not on in full swing,” a source said.
