K’taka ADGP suspended in lottery scam

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Bengaluru, May 23

The Karnataka government today suspended an ADGP (Additional Director General of Police) for his alleged involvement in one digit lottery scam.

Alok Kumar, a 1994 batch IPS officer, was today suspended allegedly for being in touch with illegal lottery kingpin Pari Rajan. Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee confirmed to the TNS that the senior IPS officer has been put under suspension. Asked why this step was taken, Mukherjee said, “I cannot tell you anything more. You find out”.

It is however, learnt that a CID report on the illegal lottery racket had mentioned Alok Kumar’s name. The report had in fact named several other senior police officers’ name as well and it is likely that action may be taken against some more police officers by the state government in connection with the scam.

S K Pattnayak, Karnataka Home Secretary, told the TNS that last week one Dharanesh, Superintendent of Police (Lottery Squad), was suspended for his alleged involvement in the racket.

The CID report also hints that some of these officers could be involved in cricket betting also.

The CID’s custody of Rajan ended on Friday following which he was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

The lottery racket was being operated in the districts of Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Belagavi and Dharwad. In several cases, printed lottery tickets were also being circulated. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing a meeting of police officers on May 9, had ordered the CID to probe the scam