DIG Roopa transfer row: No space for honest officers in Siddaramaiah rule, says Yeddyurappa

Former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday said that by transferring Deputy Inspector of General (Prisons) D Roopa, incumbent chief Siddaramaiah has 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.

Earlier today, DIG (Prisons) 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 targetted and singled out for exposing irregularities at the Parappana Agrahara Central prison.

-ANI