Whistle-Blower DIG Transferred: Opposition Leaders Condemn, CM Refuses To Comment 

Even as two former chief ministers of Karnataka condemned the transfer of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Prisons) Roopa who wrote about the irregularities in the conduct of activities at the Parappana Agrahara central prison, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to comment saying, “it is not necessary to disclose everything to media”.

DIG (Prisons) Roopa D Moudgil, had written a report to the Director General (Prisons) H N Satyanarayana Rao that stated the irregularities going on in the central prison. It included an assertion that a bribe worth Rs 2 crore was given to the prison officials by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief VK Sasikala for, including the DG (Prisons), in order to avail special facilities in the central prison. The state government ordered her transfer from the prisons department to to the traffic department where she has been posted as the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety on a day when a probe into the alleged prison irregularities was to take off.

Roopa’s transfer has been condemned by the opposition with two former chief ministers accusing the current government of covering up for the wrong people and their wrong doings. Former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said that the CM has sent out a clear message that there is no space for honest officers in his rule. “Nobody could have imagined that such things were happening in the jail. And instead of taking action on the police officers report and put a halt on the illegal business going inside the jail, she has been transferred. The CM has given a message to the entire police department that no honest officer should come out with the truth,” said Yeddyurappa. Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former CM H D Kumaraswamy too condemned the transfer. “I think this government wants to protect the illegal activities and the people doing it. This government is not trying to sincerely bring out the truth and facts. This government is only there to protect the interest of illegal people and encourage such issues,” Kumaraswamy told ANI.

But despite several voices raised against the officer’s transfer the state Law Minister T B Jayachandran echoing the CM’s words feigned ignorance. “I don’t know whether they are transferred or not, but a probe has been ordered. Let there be an inquiry and let the report come, and whoever, whether the DIG or DGP, has crossed the limit will face the consequences,” he said. ANI