Siddaramaiah vs Karnataka police saga continues as senior cop puts in papers after CM's 'public humiliation'

After a senior IPS officer got his suspension order (over the Stampede incident) quashed by the CAT, another senior cop in Karnataka, has put in his papers, alleging “public humiliation” by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a protest rally in Belagavi last April.

In his June 12 letter seeking voluntary retirement from service (VRS) to the Chief Secretary, Narayan V Baramani, Additional Superintendent of Police, Dharwad, said he had narrowly missed being publicly slapped by the chief minister but could not escape the public humiliation.

Recalling the incident in his letter, Baramani stated that on April 28, the Congress party was protesting against the price rise by the Centre in Belagavi and he was in charge of the bandobast.

“However, during the public rally, some women were waving black flags and shouting slogans against the Congress government. The chief minister abruptly stopped his speech and loudly called out, 'Who is the SP, come here'. As the in-charge SP or DCP were not at the spot, I went up the stage and an angry CM raised his hand as if to slap me,” he recounted the ordeal.

“I stepped back and escaped being publicly slapped. It happened in full view of the people, media, ministers and national leaders and thousands of party workers, policemen present at the rally. I was overwhelmed but remained silent to uphold the dignity of the CM’s post. The video of the incident went viral with the TV channels telecasting it for two days,” he added.

The police officer who has served in various capacities in the department over the last 31 years said that the incident had shaken him and caused immense pain and anguish to his family too. He stated that despite best efforts he could not comprehend the fact that the chief minister had humiliated him in public but neither the CM, senior government officials or his higher ups had made any effort to console him or stand by him. This, he said, had not only demoralised and demotivated him, but many in uniform and government service.

“The day I went home after the incident, my wife and children broke down and the house fell silent. We are deeply traumatised and scarred. The incident haunts me every day when I wear the uniform as I feel I was wronged for no fault of mine. I felt a man who could not fight for himself cannot ensure justice for others,” said Baramani, who has four years of service remaining and was also expecting a transfer to Bengaluru as DCP (Crime), which never came through.

Incidentally, the officer who chose to send his request for VRS to the chief secretary and not his higher up, and 45 days after the incident, on Thursday, reported to duty (in Dharwad).

“The CM and the Home minister spoke to me. I am reporting to duty,” said Baramani without clarifying if he would withdraw his plea for VRS.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara said he had spoken to the officer and would also give him the posting. “It was the spur of the moment, and the CM did not intend to slap the officer. We will speak to the officer once again and also give him the due posting,” said the home minister.

The BJP slammed the chief minister and the Congress government for “publicly shaming” a police officer and equated Siddaramaiah to Hitler.

“Who said Aurangzeb and Hitler are no more? It is an absolute abuse of power and disgraceful display of arrogance against those who protect the law. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shri Narayan Bharamani, who was nearly slapped by the CM has now applied for voluntary retirement. We could only imagine the humiliation he had to go through because of the arrogance of this "lottery CM",” posted the BJP on social media.  

India