SI uses political influence for leave, punished with delayed promotion

Belagavi: In a rather rare instance a police sub-inspector who was found guilty of pressuring his senior to sanction his leave by using political influence has been punished with a delayed promotion. 

An inquiry initiated by the Karnataka Police Complaints Authority (KPCA), on the basis of the complaint by the superintendent of police (SP) of Belagavi found SI Manjunath B Hiremath Hiremath guilty of lowering the dignity of the department by resorting to use of political clout to get his four day leave i.e from February 4 to 7 of this year sanctioned rather than following the normal procedure.

Manjunath who is currently attached to the Mudhol police station was deputed at Bailhongal station in Belagavi at the time of the incident. Following the SP’s complaint, the KPCA had sought Manjunath’s response. A statement given by Manjunath on February 16, trying to defend his act was found unsatisfactory and the KPCA, on March 6, recommended that his promotion, whenever due, be withheld for six months.

A subsequent appeal made to higher authorities by Manjunath, on April 11, against the KPCA order was rejected where after he appealed to the government in June. However, the government too after detailed discussion decided to uphold the KPCA recommendation. In its proceedings published on October 9, the government, acting under the provisions of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, ordered that his promotion be delayed.

This case is considered to be a rare one since political interference in the functioning of the police department is not something new and most of these case go unreported.