DC asks to investigate Habbalkar intimidation case

BELAGAVI: DC N Jayaram has written letter to city police commissioner seeking investigation into the allegations against Uddappa Kattikar, sub-inspector of city crime investigation bureau (CCIB) in connection to harassing truck drivers carry sand loads legally with valid pass issued by public works department (PWD).
SI had released audio clip to electronic media on Saturday claiming KPCC women’s unit president Laxmi Hebbalkar intimidated him.In response to allegations, Hebbalkar had denied charges and levelled allegations against SI for bringing bad name to the government by harassing truck drivers engaged in legal sand transport. Hebbalkar also blamed the officer for showing only 14 trucks on record although he had stopped 31. Of the 31 trucks, he allegedly released 17 misusing his power and fined 14 trucks despite they had legal documents.
With the issue attract the state level attention by highlighting in media, DC Jayaram on Monday wrote letter to city police commissioner to investigate the case on priority and submit report with facts. Speaking to the TOI, DC said he already wrote letter to the commissioner to investigate the case.
DC confirmed that the meeting held on 30th June decided to restrict sand transport in night time because monitoring sand transportation is hectic job and it’s hard tack police to attend every complaint comes at late night. It was also decided allowing transportation up to 6pm. But the decision wasn’t made public. It’s wrong if SI stopped trucks because of delayed transportation before bringing the decision to public domain. But here the issue is whether SI stopped trucks carrying sand with valid passes. The fact should come out only through investigation, he said.
When asked city police commissioner TG Krishna Bhatta said he has already ordered DCP (crime) Amarnath Reddy to conduct inquiry. Amarnath Reddy said he has initiated inquiry and commenting anything about the case at this stage is premature.