Police complaints authority has ex-RPI man, babu under ACB probe as its members
RPI chief Ramdas Athavale admits he recommended former ADGP; retired IAS officer Ramarao says inquiry is closed but ACB chief says it’s still underway.
The state government, which is credited with forming the country’s first police complaints authority headed by a retired Bombay High Court judge and with retired IPS, IAS officers as members, could be headed for embarrassment.
While Premkishan Jain, who retired as Additional DGP, was an active member of the Republican Party of India (Athavale group), retired IAS officer and former divisional commissioner (Konkan) is being probed by the state anti corruption bureau (ACB) after he was caught on tape claiming revenue department officials paid bribes to nominate them to the IAS.
The authority will also have suo motu powers of inquiry. Besides Potdar, Jain and Ramarao, the committee also has retired Additional DGP RR Sonkusare.
RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athavale said, “He (Jain) has been appointed to the authority only because he is in RPI(A). I recommended him since he is a retired Additional DGP and works for my party.”
Defending himself, Jain said, “I resigned from the party the day I was appointed. The police complaints authority is a statutory body and has to be apolitical for the larger benefit of people. A government gives several statutory posts to political functionaries, but after appointment those holding such posts cannot be actively associated with political activities.”
Ramarao, an 1972 batch IAS officer, was managing director at CIDCO before retiring as additional chief secretary. In 2009, he contested the parliamentary elections on a Praja Rajyam Party ticket in Andhra Pradesh.
Ramarao was earlier taped by IAS officer Appa Kumbhar saying how bribes were taken from revenue officers for nominations to the IAS. Kumbhar moved the Bombay High Court for an inquiry. The inquiry was finally given clearance last year by the state government and is being probed by the state ACB.
Speaking to Mirror, Ramarao said, “This inquiry is closed now and Kumbhar has also retired. Why are you writing about it? You reporters write anything. No one bothers about it. You can write in bold letters. Kumbhar is a badmash.” Kumbhar, however, is still a serving IAS officer.
Kumbhar said, “I had taped Ramarao in 2004 while he was divisional commissioner (Konkan) and had moved the High Court. Then CM Prithviraj Chavan allowed the ACB to start an open inquiry in the case. In fact, I have written many times to ACB chief Praveen Dixit to call Ramarao and finish the inquiry quickly.” Dixit confirmed that this inquiry was still underway.
Chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said he did not know about the appointments to the police complaints authority and said he would check on this.
Former chief secretary V Ranganathan said, “Members should be people in whom common citizens have confidence. Earlier, people used to complain about problems and they used to be heard by police officers. There have been instances wherein the complaint landed on desk of officers against whom there was a complaint. Hence there was a need for an independent authority. Members of this authority must be above controversy and impartial. They must also have a certain level of credibility in society and ability to redress grievances.”
The authority will have the powers of a civil court, including summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, examining them on oath, receiving evidence on affidavit, and requisitioning public records or copies from any court or office.
The authority will also submit its reports to the state government. If a report is accepted, it will be forwarded to the police station concerned to be recorded as an FIR.
It will also have powers to advise the state government on matters like ensuring the protection of victims, witnesses and families. A member of this authority can visit a police station and lockups or any place of detention used by the police.
The state government, which is credited with forming the country’s first police complaints authority headed by a retired Bombay High Court judge and with retired IPS, IAS officers as members, could be headed for embarrassment.
While Premkishan Jain, who retired as Additional DGP, was an active member of the Republican Party of India (Athavale group), retired IAS officer and former divisional commissioner (Konkan) is being probed by the state anti corruption bureau (ACB) after he was caught on tape claiming revenue department officials paid bribes to nominate them to the IAS.
The authority will hear complaints against officers of the rank of assistant commissioner of police and above. Similar authorities at the district level, to be headed by retired district judges, will hear complaints against junior officers.
The authority will also have suo motu powers of inquiry. Besides Potdar, Jain and Ramarao, the committee also has retired Additional DGP RR Sonkusare.
RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athavale said, “He (Jain) has been appointed to the authority only because he is in RPI(A). I recommended him since he is a retired Additional DGP and works for my party.”
Defending himself, Jain said, “I resigned from the party the day I was appointed. The police complaints authority is a statutory body and has to be apolitical for the larger benefit of people. A government gives several statutory posts to political functionaries, but after appointment those holding such posts cannot be actively associated with political activities.”
Ramarao, an 1972 batch IAS officer, was managing director at CIDCO before retiring as additional chief secretary. In 2009, he contested the parliamentary elections on a Praja Rajyam Party ticket in Andhra Pradesh.
Ramarao was earlier taped by IAS officer Appa Kumbhar saying how bribes were taken from revenue officers for nominations to the IAS. Kumbhar moved the Bombay High Court for an inquiry. The inquiry was finally given clearance last year by the state government and is being probed by the state ACB.
Speaking to Mirror, Ramarao said, “This inquiry is closed now and Kumbhar has also retired. Why are you writing about it? You reporters write anything. No one bothers about it. You can write in bold letters. Kumbhar is a badmash.” Kumbhar, however, is still a serving IAS officer.
Kumbhar said, “I had taped Ramarao in 2004 while he was divisional commissioner (Konkan) and had moved the High Court. Then CM Prithviraj Chavan allowed the ACB to start an open inquiry in the case. In fact, I have written many times to ACB chief Praveen Dixit to call Ramarao and finish the inquiry quickly.” Dixit confirmed that this inquiry was still underway.
Chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said he did not know about the appointments to the police complaints authority and said he would check on this.
Former chief secretary V Ranganathan said, “Members should be people in whom common citizens have confidence. Earlier, people used to complain about problems and they used to be heard by police officers. There have been instances wherein the complaint landed on desk of officers against whom there was a complaint. Hence there was a need for an independent authority. Members of this authority must be above controversy and impartial. They must also have a certain level of credibility in society and ability to redress grievances.”
The authority will have the powers of a civil court, including summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, examining them on oath, receiving evidence on affidavit, and requisitioning public records or copies from any court or office.
The authority will also submit its reports to the state government. If a report is accepted, it will be forwarded to the police station concerned to be recorded as an FIR.
It will also have powers to advise the state government on matters like ensuring the protection of victims, witnesses and families. A member of this authority can visit a police station and lockups or any place of detention used by the police.
