Karnataka: Despite run-ins with CM, Ayukta whistleblower is new DIG (CID)
BENGALURU: IPS officer Sonia Narang, who exposed the extortion racket functioning within the Lokayukta office, has been again given an important posting in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), on her promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).
Though there were rumours in the police circles that Ms Narang would not be given any key posting, considering that she is reportedly not in good terms with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, she has been posted to CID, the premier investigation agency which is handling several high profile cases.
In July 2013, Ms Narang had strongly refuted allegations that she helped illegal mining and clarified that she had never worked in the areas where illegal mining was carried out.
Following reports that that the CM had disclosed in the legislative assembly that the IPS officer, who was then the Commandant of KSRP first battalion, was facing charges of helping illegal mining, Ms Narang had issued a press statement clarifying that she never worked in the areas where illegal mining was being done and the question of helping or encouraging illegal mining does not arise at all. The episode had embarrassed the Chief Minister.
Recently, following the expose of the extortion racket in Lokayukta involving former Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin, Ms Narang had revealed that she was called to the Lokayukta’s official residence by the staff that the Lokayukta wanted to meet her.
When Ms Narang went there, Ashwin offered her a posting as SP in the anti-corruption institution. But the officer had made it clear that she would have to work anywhere the government deputes her.
However, several months after the meeting, Ms Narang was transferred to Lokayukta by the government. Revealing this in public had also not gone well with the Chief Minister.
These developments had led senior police officials to speculate that Ms Narang would not get a key posting till Mr Siddaramaiah continues as the Chief Minister. However, they have been proved wrong with the government giving Ms Narang, the whistle-blower in the Lokayukta extortion scam, a key position again.
Currently, the CID is investigating several high profile cases, including the assassination of rationalist writer Dr. M.M. Kalburgi, the rape case allegations against the seer of Sri Ramachandrapura Math, Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swami, multi crore scams involving BBMP, BDA and other sensitive cases.
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