Karnataka transfers Bengaluru police official who claimed Sasikala got special treatment in jail
D Roopa had alleged she was being targeted for her report that revealed some prisoners were extended privileges.
Karnataka Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) D Roopa, who had alleged that special treatment was being given to a few celebrity inmates in Bengaluru’s Parapanna Agrahara Central Prison, has been transferred, India Today reported on Monday. Among the prisoners named in her report was All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief VK Sasikala.
Jail Superintendent Krishna Kumar has also been transferred. R Anitha will take over the position.
Soon after Roopa’s claims were made public on Friday, she was served a notice which accused her of leaking the report to the media. The officer had alleged that she was being singled out for her report and had also said that video evidence of Sasikala getting special treatment in the Bengaluru prison had been deleted.
After reports of her transfer emerged, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told ANI that is was an “administrative process”. “It is not necessary to disclose everything to the media,” he added.
Roopa will be moved to the post of deputy inspector general, commissioner for traffic and road safety, in Bengaluru, The Hindu reported. The Karnataka intelligence chief has also been moved, less than four months after he was given the position.
On Friday, Siddaramaiah had said Roopa would face action for taking her findings to the media. He claimed that speaking to the press about the report repeatedly was against service rules.
D Roopa’s prison report
The report claims that All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Sasikala paid Rs 2 crore in bribe to senior police officers for preferential treatment at the Bengaluru central jail. DG (Prisons) HS Sathyanarayana Rao has been accused of providing the AIADMK leader with special facilities such as deputing inmates to cook food for her in a special kitchen set up for her.
The prison report has been submitted to the Karnataka government, additional chief secretary (home), the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the state inspector general of police and Rao himself. Siddaramaiah had ordered an inquiry into the allegations.
This is not the first time there has been speculation that Sasikala has had special privileges in jail. Earlier, in response to an RTI, the jail had revealed she was allowed visitors after 5 pm, which is after visiting hours.