IMA scam: Govt brazenly drags feet on accused IPS duo

In its report to the state government, the CBI had detailed the alleged relationship between the IMA bosses and the officials, including the cops, and had sought the government’s permission for prosecution. In response, the government ordered the suspension pending an inquiry of LC Nagaraj, Assistant Commissioner, Bengaluru North, EB Sridhara, Dy Sp, CID, EOD, Bengaluru, M Ramesh, Police Inspector, City Special Branch, and Gowri Shankar, Sub Inspector, Jeevan Bhima Nagar police station, Bengaluru.

KPS ‘fair game’, IPS off limits?

But nearly two months after the CBI chargesheet in October, the government continues to drag its feet in the case of Nimbalkar (Additional Police Commissioner, Administration, Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate) and Hilori (KSRP Commandant). This sequence of events indicates that while the government has no compunction in acting against accused Karnataka Police Service officers, it has its blinkers on in the specific case of the IPS duo.

In fact, one of the IPS duo is in charge of the Rs 700-crore ‘Nirbhaya project’ which proposes to cover all of Bengaluru city with CCTVs to keep a check on crime, and is also rumoured to be close to a minister handling a plum portfolio in the Yediyurappa cabinet. “This could be one of the reasons why these officers have not been suspended,” said a source.

Other sources allege that the government’s inaction over the IPS duo could be because a group of IAS officers, with the support of some IPS officers, is trying to shield the duo. According to these sources, a group of 1998 batch IAS and IPS officers from Karnataka had met and decided to shield the duo from suspension or departmental inquiry.

DPAR in slumber

The state’s Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has also shown little interest in pushing ahead with the procedure of getting the IPS duo suspended. It is believed that following tremendous pressure on the DPAR, the department submitted its proposal through Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar to the Chief Minister, but the file was returned with remarks which are yet to be disclosed to the media.

‘Pressure tactics’

“Some officers in the secretariat are hesitant to take on one particular IPS officer as he has a reputation for arm-twisting,” said an official source who is closely monitoring the related developments. “As both the IPS officers are still in service, there are possibilities that they will try to put pressure on the investigative agency through various platforms, or even on other government officers, so that the case is not handled in a manner which can harm them,” the source added.

Meanwhile, IMA boss Mansoor Khan remains in judicial custody while former Congress minister R Roshan Baig was the ‘biggest fish’ to be arrested on Sunday by the CBI. Sources say more arrests, including of some police officers, may follow in the near future.