Unable to withstand political interference in his work, UP’s top cop Arun Kumar, posted as additional director general of police (law and order), has sought permission to go on Central deputation.
Mr Kumar proceeded on leave on Thursday and made himself unavailable to the media.
The Congress, BJP and BSP said that this reflects the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh and demanded an explanation from the state government.
According to sources, Mr Arun Kumar was upset at not being given a free hand to control the riots in Muzaffarnagar and was opposed to identification of criminals on basis of their religion.
Mr Kumar’s letter seeking permission to leave on Central deputation is a major embarrassment to the state government and also an indictment of those political leaders who interfered in the Muzaffarnagar riots. Mr Kumar had camped for a week in the violence-hit Muzaffarnagar region and had moved out only after normalcy was restored.
Coming close on the heels of the Durga Shakti Nagpal episode, this incident proves that the atmosphere in UP is not conducive for honest and upright officers.
Sources in the government said that Mr Kumar had been initially upset at the manner in which the state government had shielded SP leader K.C. Pandey, who was involved in cattle smuggling and was caught in a sting operation offering bribe to SP Gonda Navneet Rana. Instead of taking action against the accused, the government chose to transfer the SP instead.
Mr Kumar had returned to his parent cadre during the BSP regime but was sidelined with a posting in the technical services He was elevated as the additional director general of police by the Akhilesh Yadav government a few months back after spiralling crime graph earned considerable flak for the government.
Known as one of the most upright and efficient IPS officer in the state cadre, Mr Arun Kumar has an impeccable service record. He led the formation of the special task force in Uttar Pradesh in the late nineties and reined in several criminals of the time.
A feature film titled Seher was made on him and won accolades.
He had also served as joint director of the CBI a few years ago and was the officer-in-charge of the Aarushi Talwar and Hemraj murder case
A senior IPS officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that it was unfortunate that efficient officers were being driven out of the state at a time when governance was almost non-existent.
Meanwhile, the official spokesman feigned complete ignorance about Mr Kumar’s letter seeking Central deputation and also the fact that he had proceeded on leave.