In a fresh development, the ADGP has filed a complaint against Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and his son for alleged threats and trying to interfere with the investigation.
Published Oct 11, 2024 | 10:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2024 | 2:28 PM
HD Kumaraswamy. (X)
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M Chandra Sekhar, on Friday, 11 October, filed a formal complaint against Union Minister and JD(S) Karnataka president HD Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
This comes amid a war of words between the duo that has been going on for a couple of weeks. In his complaint, the ADGP has accused the Union minister of intimidation and threats, in connection to the ongoing investigations into illegal mining case from 2013.
The ADGP heads a Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the state’s Internal Security Division (ISD) and is looking into allegations against the JD(S) leader.
In a letter addressed to the Sanjay Nagar Police Station, Sekhar claims that Kumaraswamy – who has been accused in the case – has been making false allegations against him during press briefings.
The top cop has alleged in the complaint accessed by South First that, “The accused has, with a pre-designed plan to derail the investigation being conducted by the SIT against him, verbally attacked me and threatened to have me shifted from my Cadre to another state.”
Sekhar also charged that Kumaraswamy, who is out on bail, threatened the top cop and his family in an attempt to bungle the investigation.
In his complaint, the ADGP has additionally named JD(S) Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy and JD(S) Legislative Party leader and MLA Suresh Babu, accusing them of making false allegations against him.
Charging at the Union minister, the ADGP wrote, “He has alleged that I have continued in Karnataka Cadre based on false medical records. He has threatened that he will take up the matter with Centre. Kumaraswamy also mentions that he has made an effort to do my background verification to dig dirt. It is an open threat to an investigation officer by an accused.”
The IPS officer argues that the conduct of Kumaraswamy undermines the rule of law and calls for an investigation into the alleged misuse of power by the Union Minister. He emphasised the need for accountability, stating that no individual, regardless of their political status, should be above the law.
Sekhar’s complaint includes enclosures of press briefings and other relevant documents, urging law enforcement to take necessary action against Kumaraswamy.
Meanwhile, the Union minister had claimed that Chandra Sekhar was under the protection of the Congress government in Karnataka and that he was being used as a pawn in politically motivated investigation. He also stated that he would soon file a complaint against Chandra Sekhar before the Union Home Ministry.
The Union minister levelled allegations against the cop when he turned up at the Karnataka Lokayukta headquarters on 27 September for an inquiry on the denotification of 1.1 acres of land at Gangenahalli in Bengaluru.
He accused the ADGP of corruption and involvement in multiple criminal activities and claimed the officer leaked a confidential letter from the Governor’s office and fabricated evidence to justify probing the Governor’s staff.
The minister also accused Chandra Sekhar of extortion, falsifying documents to secure the Karnataka cadre, and illegally constructing a 38-storey building on encroached land.
Later, in a press conference, Kumaraswamy told reporters: “A corrupt IPS officer involved in multiple criminal offences has requested permission to investigate the staff in the Governor’s office. This officer enjoys the support of the state Congress government.”
“The officer in question, Lokayukta SIT’s ADGP M Chandra Sekhar, is the corrupt officer, and the state government is conducting investigations through such rogue officials,” alleged the Union minister.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
