Transferring DIG Prisons D Roopa a decision taken in Public interest: Siddaramaiah

New Delhi [India], Jul 17 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday defended his action of transferring Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) D Roopa, who exposed irregularities in Parappana Agrahara Prison, stating that the action was taken "in view of the Government's commitment to public interest, truth and justice." The Chief Minister pointed out that despite the immediate institution of inquiry into the irregularities; both Roopa and Director General of Police (Prisons) H N Sathyanarayana Rao went to the media to discuss the case. "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," an official release from the Chief Minister's Office said. "In order to maintain the sanctity of the inquiry process and safeguard it from further interference, the Government has asked the DGP (Prisons) H N Sathyanarayana Rao to proceed on leave, while DIG (Prisons) D Roopa has been transferred as Deputy Inspector General of Police and Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, Bengaluru," it added. The Chief Minster said the government is committed to allow the inquiry to proceed unhinged, so that evidence based truth emerges, following which necessary and strict action will be taken to bring the guilty to book. Roopa has been transferred to the traffic department as the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, while Sathyanarayana Rao to was asked to go on leave. Slamming the government, former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that by transferring Roopa, incumbent chief Siddaramaiah had sent out a clear message that there is no space for honest officers in his rule. Yeddyurappa said that instead of taking action on Roopa's report and interrogating the irregularities, the authorities have transferred her. "Nobody could have imagined that such things were happening in the jail. And instead of taking action on the police officers report and put a halt on the illegal business going inside the jail, she has been transferred. The CM has given a message to the entire police department that no honest officer should come out with the truth," said Yeddyurappa. (ANI) 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 targetted and singled out for exposing irregularities at the Parappana Agrahara Central prison. (ANI)