Controversial Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kudligi Sub-Division in Ballari district, Anupama Shenoy who had taken head on Karnataka labour Minister PT Parameshwar Naik, also the district in-charge, had resurfaced several days after being incommunicado and said her decision to quit was final. Her alleged Facebook posts had sent jitters to the ruling Government and the Government was working hard to put an end to this episode. However in a great relief to the Government she had denied her Facebook posts and said it must have been hacked.
The saga of Anupama Shenoy an upright officer who has been allegedly tortured by the close aid of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s labour Minister PT Parameshwar Naik has dented the image of ruling Congress in Karnataka.
Anupama Shenoy had tendered her resignation on 4 June and since then her whereabouts were not known. She resurfaced on Thursday at Kudligi and said she was firm in her decision to quit. Addressing a Press conference in Kudligi she said, “I stand by my decision to resign.” Asked about her Facebook posts, she said “I don’t know about Facebook; someone might be doing it in my name, it might have been hacked also.”
Karnataka police had formed a special team to trace her as her alleged posts on Facebook levelling accusations against labour Minister PT Parameshwar Naik, also the district in-charge, had created a flutter in political circles.
In January, Shenoy was transferred allegedly at the behest of Naik for putting his call on hold, with the incident triggering a storm. A video footage purportedly showing Naik making a boastful claim about shunting out Shenoy had also gone viral later.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the Government would not take any hasty decision and would want her to continue in the force, but also pointed out that she was bound by rules.
Her Facebook posts, eventually she has denied, have sent the Congress leaders in a tizzy while the police still are trying to verify whether the account is being actually handled by her or someone else.
Meanwhile, Minister Naik, who is at the receiving end, trying to put up a brave front on the issue and said, “How can I comment on what she is posting on FacebookIJ We are not even sure if the Facebook account belongs to her.”
Following protests by a group of people against her for taking three persons into preventive detention, Shenoy left the office on 4 June after handing over her resignation letter to subordinate officers, instructing them to hand it over to the Superintendent of Police. Officials said Shenoy was acting on a complaint by Dalit activists against the extension of a liquor shop that was blocking the way to Ambedkar Bhavan nearby.
The Government is trying in vain to convince her to withdraw the resignation in the wake of intense public criticism. However, Anupama, has said she was firm in resigning. In January, Naik was caught on camera proudly claiming that he got Anupama transferred, as she did not respond properly to his phone calls. last week, the minister reportedly interfered with her work when she tried to take on the liquor lobby prompting her to tender her resignation.
A 2010 batch Karnataka cadre officer, Anupama was transferred to Indi Division in Vijayapura district from Ballari on January 18 following her fall-out with the minister. However, in February the government transferred her back to Kudgli following massive public outcry.
BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa termed the situation alarming for government servants. “The working atmosphere is so bad within the government that honest officers are quitting service. The government should be ashamed of what the minister has done,” he said. eom/blr