Govt transfers police officer D. Roopa who exposed Sasikala jail bribery case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Monday transferred senior police official Roopa D. Moudgil, days after she presented a damaging report on corruption and mismanagement in Bengaluru Central Jail.

Deputy inspector general (Prisons) Roopa’s boss additional director general of police (prisons) H.N. Sathyanarayana Rao, who had termed her allegations “baseless”, has been asked to go on leave.

“The interaction of both police officers with the media during the course of inquiry was unwarranted, and amounted to a serious violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules,” chief minister Siddaramaiah said in a statement. Both officials have been issued showcause notices, he said.

Siddaramaiah said the changes were made to “maintain the sanctity of the inquiry process and safeguard it from further interference.”

The government posted Roopa as commissioner for traffic and road safety, replacing her with N.S. Megharikh, additional DGP of anti corruption bureau and former Bengaluru city police commissioner.

The government has also transferred Bengaluru Central Jail chief superintendent Krishna Kumar.

Roopa had assumed her post on 23 June. On 12 July, she submitted a report to Rao citing drug abuse, unregulated movement of prisoners, and threats and assault of medical staff by prisoners. Roopa said she had heard former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) general secretary V.K. Sasikala had paid a bribe of Rs2 crore for preferential treatment. Her report also highlighted preferential treatment to fake stamp paper kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi.

The government ordered a high-level inquiry led by retired IAS official Vinay Kumar. It also issued notices to both Roopa and her superiors in the prisons department for approaching the media in violation of rules.

Subsequent visits by officers to the jail witnessed disturbances, resulting in at least 31 inmates being shifted to other prisons.

Roopa could not be reached for a comment.

“Instead of transforming the prison based on her report, transferring her to traffic is not right; it is like giving punishment for her honesty,” BJP state president and former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Delhi, according to a PTI report.