DIG Roopa transfer row: BJP accuses Siddaramaiah Govt. of targeting whistleblowers

Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 18 (ANI): Condemning the transfer of Deputy Inspector General of prisons Roopa D Moudgil, after she alleged that AIADMK leader VK Sasikala received preferential treatment in Bengaluru Central Prison by paying a bribe, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said instead of protecting the officer, the Karnataka government has chosen to protect the culprit. Talking to ANI here, BJP leader S. Prakash said in Karnataka, the whistleblowers are the only target and victim of the Siddaramaiah government. "DIG Roopa, who exposed the corrupt irregularities in Central prison, has made very serious allegations to provide facilities to Sasikala. Two crore rupees have also been paid. Instead of protecting her, the government has chosen to protect the culprit and to wash away all the charges she has levelled. In Karnataka whistleblowers are the targets of this government... all of them have become the victim of the government," he added. Yesterday, Roopa, who wrote a report to the Director General (Prisons) H.N. Satyanarayana Rao stating about the irregularities going on in the central prison, was transferred to the traffic department. Roopa has been transferred to the traffic department as the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety. A recent report by the DIG (Prisons) had asserted that a bribe worth Rs. 2 crore was given to the prison officials by AIADMK chief VK Sasikala for, including the DG (Prisons), in order to avail special facilities in Parappana Agrahara central prison. Roopa, in a report to the Director General (Prisons), had said there are speculations that Sasikala paid bribe to prison officials to get special facilities for herself with rumours also of the DG being a beneficiary himself. In this regard, Siddaramaiah assured that strict action would be taken against the guilty, while taking cognizance of allegations of irregularities in the Bengaluru central prison. The Karnataka Chief Minister said he has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. On one hand, where the DG (Prisons) categorically denied all the charges, Roopa, on the other, maintained her stand, saying that she has no issue with an inquiry taking place into it. On July 14, Roopa had also said she is being unnecessarily targeted and singled out for exposing irregularities at the Parappana Agrahara Central prison. (ANI)