Kochi: Additional director-general of police Rishiraj Singh has sparked another controversy by visiting the home of a BJP leader, who is accused of attempting to murder a CPM leader, on his return from a function organised to commemorate India’s Kargil victory on July 25.
Mr Singh visited the home of V. V. Vijeesh, an office-bearer of BJP Kunnamkulam mandalam and an accused in an attempt to murder case.
While the CPM has seriously objected to the visit saying it gives the signal that even criminals have the protection of senior police officers, the BJP contends that it was not a planned visit and that the CPM was over-reacting to the success of a programme held in their stronghold by an organisation not affiliated to it.
“It was a non-political function in which about 2,000 people of all political hues attended,” BJP Thrissur district president A. Nagesh told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Vijeesh said the ADGP wanted to freshen himself up on his way back to Ernakulam, and the visit to his home was not pre-planned.
Dismissing the argument that it was a chance visit, CPM Thrissur district secretary A. C. Moideen told DC that he had reports that the local police officials had advised Mr Singh against accepting the hospitality of a person who has criminal charges pending against him.
“Mr Singh reached Mr Vijeesh’s home in a car provided by the organisers,” he said. “This gives the lie to the argument that it was not planned.”
The CPI(M) leader said Mr Singh’s act suggests that the rules that govern police behaviour and democratic conventions are not binding on him.
“This is even more dangerous when we read it with his refusal to show the minimum courtesy to the home minister of the state in a public function,” Mr Moideen said.
