Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has lodged a strong protest with the Centre against the Income Tax department using the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) instead of the local police when carrying out its raids on the offices and residences of Energy Minister, D.K. Shivakumar.
While acknowledging that the I-T department was well within its rights to engage CRPF personnel, the government said it, however, “cast aspersions on the credibility, integrity and professionalism of the state police."
In a strongly worded letter to Union revenue secretary, Hasmukh Adhia, additional chief secretary, Subhash Chandra claimed the I-T department’s action also broke the established convention of cooperation between Central and state government agencies. "Around 30 CRPF personnel in full gear with weapons were deployed in Bengaluru. This resulted in protests by the supporters (of the minister) and police personnel were required to be mobilised at short notice to maintain law and order," he recalled. Referring to the internal reports of the superintendent of police Bengaluru Central and IG, Central Range, Mr Chandra said the action of the I-T officials had provoked the supporters of the minister, who were all set to take the law into their hands before the city police stepped in. Pointing out that in the past the I-T department had used the services of the state police, he said deploying armed CRPF personnel for a civilian operation also conveyed a wrong impression. "Law and order is a state subject and such deployment of CRPF personnel should be done in consultation with local authorities. This should not be bypassed in such matters where both governments share responsibilities,” Mr Chandra emphasised, suggesting that the I-T department should be suitably advised in the matter.
